“Our competency testing is a move toward achieving excellence in quality patient care and in meeting the needs of the community. We are ensuring patient care safety.”
> Romy Agdeppa, RN, Supervising Critical Care Nurse at LAC+USC Medical Center
“Our competency testing is a move toward achieving excellence
in quality patient care and in meeting the needs of the community. We
are ensuring patient care safety.”> Romy Agdeppa, RN, Supervising Critical Care Nurse at LAC+USC Medical Center
SEIU Local 721 health care members are advocates for our patients, making sure they receive the highest quality care and we have stood up for a competency testing process that supports our important patient care mission.
Because of our efforts, we have:
• Made sure that practice sessions are available to staff on all shifts on County time
• Helped ensure flexibility in scheduling so that staff can opt to practice more before testing
• Ensured high-quality support and representation for any individual staff with concerns or problems with the testing process
• Vocally advocated for a testing process that supports quality patient care and the ongoing training and development of staff and is fair and equitable for all employees
If you have any questions, please contact Katarina Thompson, RN, SEIU Local 721 RN Director, at 213-738-8420.
For nursing staff that have yet to be tested, what you should know:
1. Before taking your test, make sure you have adequate practice and preparation time. You should have been given a study guide at least ten days prior to the test and you have the right to practice and prepare for the performance skills during county time. You should ask for as much time as you need. If you don’t have enough time on the first visit, you can ask for more time. It is not necessary for you to take your test immediately.
2. When and if you have taken the test, protect your rights to representation. It is our goal to ensure that the test is administered fairly because the stakes are high. The policy may cause workers who have been formally rated competent to be removed from patient care, which would negatively impact patient care and demoralize the workforce. Contact your worksite organizer if you have any personal or group immediate concerns about the test.