Supervisor procedure: Breath-testing for alcohol

• Breath-testing supervisors

• The Nursing and Midwifery Council of NSW, its delegates and staff

Participants with breath-testing for alcohol conditions on their registration must only practise if all of the following apply:

• they have a breath-test on a device approved by us

• they have a breath-test administered by a supervisor approved by us

• they have a breath-test at the times required by the Participant procedure: breath-testing for alcohol

• the result of their breath-test is 0%.

A supervisor must meet the following requirements:

• not be a friend, family member or employee

• if they are a health professional, be registered with AHPRA, not have any conditions on their registration and not be the subject of a complaint or active investigation

• comply with this procedure

• agree to tell us if the participant has a positive breath-test, does not attend for breath-testing as required, or if they have any other concerns about the participant’s compliance with the conditions on their registration.

Participants are encouraged to nominate more than one supervisor to ensure a supervisor is available at all times.

If we think you are not suitable to administer breath-tests we will not approve your nomination. We may also remove our approval in the future if we receive information that indicates you are no longer suitable to administer breath-tests.

The participant will give you our Breath-testing supervisor nomination form and a copy of:

• the operating instructions for their breath-testing device

• our Alcohol screening policy, Participant procedure: breath-testing for alcohol, and this procedure.

You must complete the Breath-testing supervisor nomination form indicating that you agree to the nomination and send it back to us.

While the participant is responsible for ensuring you complete this form and return it to us, we ask that you do this as soon as possible to ensure the participant’s breath-testing arrangements can be approved and they can start breath-testing.

You must complete the Breath-testing supervisor nomination form indicating that you do not agree to the nomination and send it back to us.

You should advise the participant that you do not agree to the nomination.

We will consider your completed Breath-testing supervisor nomination form and any other information provided to us and decide whether you will be approved as a supervisor.

We may contact you if we need more information.

We will write to you and the participant and advise you of the outcome of your nomination.

The participant must start breath-testing within 24 hours of being told by us that their breath-testing arrangements are approved.

The participant is responsible for organising when they require you to administer a breath-test.

We will write to you if you are approved as a supervisor and tell you how often the participant must attend for breath-testing and if the requirements for breath-testing change.

A participant must breath-test every time they practise or, in the case of a student, attend for training, including weekends and public holidays.

The participant must breath-test before they start practice or attend for training at each of the following times:

• no more than 30 minutes before they start for the day

• if they have taken a break of more than 30 minutes

• no more than 30 minutes before they end the day

• any other time we require it

Every breath-test must be administered by an approved supervisor.

The participant must not consume any food or drink, smoke, or use any health or personal hygiene products for 20 minutes before a breath-test.

At each breath-test you must:

• confirm the participant’s identity by witnessing a government-issued photo identification such as a valid driver licence, identity card or passport

• administer the breath-test according to the device manufacturer’s instructions and any specific requirements of the participant’s conditions

• record the date, time, location and result of the breath-test, then sign and write your full name in the Breath-testing for alcohol log.

The participant is responsible for maintaining their log and must sign every entry.

The participant is responsible for ensuring that a supervisor is available to administer a breath-test at any time they need to practise.

If you are not available to administer a breath-test you must advise the participant as soon as possible so they can make alternative arrangements.

The participant must follow the processes outlined in the Participant procedure: breath-testing for alcohol.

We may contact you to provide information to support a participant’s claim.

A breath-test is positive if it is more than 0%.

If the participant’s breath-test is positive they must:

• stop practising immediately

• have a second breath-test in 15 minutes.

The participant should be observed by you during this time and must not consume any food or drink, smoke, or use any health or personal hygiene products.

If their second breath-test is positive you must tell us immediately.

A participant must not return to practise for at least 24 hours after a positive breath-test.

If the participant disagrees with their breath-test result and they want to dispute it, they can have a blood alcohol test.

This process is outlined in the Participant procedure: breath-testing for alcohol.

You are not responsible for coordinating or taking any blood alcohol tests.

You are not required to send us any routine reporting information to us.

The participant must send us a copy of their log within 7 days of the start of each calendar month.

We may contact you to provide information to confirm the participant’s log.

You must contact us immediately if:

• the participant has a second positive breath-test

• the participant’s device fails or is not available

• the participant did not attend for breath-testing as required by their conditions

• you have any concerns about the participant’s alcohol use, health or compliance with their conditions.

Phone: 1300 197 177

Visit: Nursing and Midwifery Council of New South Wales

Mail: HPCA-NursingandMidwiferyCouncil@health.nsw.gov.au

Phone: 1800 372 437

Person to contact: Clive Desira

Visit: www.draeger.comopen_in_new

Phone: 1300 728 287

Email: Customer service info@lionaus.com.au

Visit: https://lionbreathalysersaustralia.com.auopen_in_new