NEWARK –  A health care service firm that supplies replacement nurses during hospital strikes in New Jersey has agreed to pay $235,000 in order to resolve allegations that it violated regulations, including those that require it to perform required background checks on its nurses.

U.S. Nursing Corporation, a Colorado-based corporation, also agreed to comply with the state’s Personnel Services Regulations in its future business activities, under terms of the Consent Order between the company and the Division of Consumer Affairs. The Personnel Services Regulations set forth requirements for the placement of health care practitioners by health care service firms, which include the practitioner’s completion of a detailed employment application and the firm’s verification of licensure and work history.

“Our regulations contain a variety of strict and important requirements that must be followed to ensure patient safety. Among other things, the regulations require that health service firms verify the work history of the health care practitioner and, when a practitioner has previously been terminated, the reason for that termination. This information is critical to safeguarding the well-being of patients,” Attorney General Stuart Rabner said.

The Division of Consumer Affairs began its investigation after U.S. Nursing Corporation began placing nurses during Englewood Hospital’s nursing strike last year. The corporation also placed nurses during the strike last year at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

U.S. Nursing Corporation cooperated with the Division’s investigation and entered into the Consent Order without admitting any violation of law.

"'The Division is committed to insuring that health care service firms follow the rules to insure the highest level of patient safety,”  Acting Consumer Affairs Director Stephen B. Nolan said. “When we contacted them, U.S. Nursing responded quickly and agreed to address our concerns. I would urge all health care service firms operating in New Jersey to review their practices for compliance with the law.'"

Deputy Attorney General Brian M. Brennan represented the Division in this matter.

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