Can I be denied employment due to claustrophobia???

[soontobenurse2]

I applied to the local VA and was offered a job as a Graduate Nurse. Monday I went for my physical, completed a questionnaire stating that I was unable to be fitted with the N95 (TB mask) because I'm claustrophobic.

The occupational health doctor had a fit over the fact that I'm claustrophobic and I'm going to work in a Ortho unit. She basically didn't want to complete my physical. She was expecting me to decline the position. I have called the unit manager several times and she has still not returned my call.

I have declined other job offers for this job. Is there anything I can do? Has anyone had a problem like this before?

ANY WORDS OF WISDOM!!!!

[soontobenurse2]

That is exactly what happened to me the hood thing made me very anxious and I couldn't continue with the fit test. I'm going to try to get over this.

Thanks,

[CVICURN2003]

I, too, am HORRIBLY claustrophobic. I don't have that much of a problem with the TB masks, it was the fit-testing that gave me the heebie-jeebies and caused a lot of anxiety for me when I worked in a hospital. Luckily, our infection control nurse figured out a way to do it without using the hood---he just had me don different sizes of N95 masks and did the spray thing. And Voila!......fit testing accomplished, and no Ativan required!

Me too...like, don't put your hand near my face or you will lose your hand claustraphobic....and I did the mask with the aeresol. (No hood) and it was not really that big of a deal. For some reason, just the mask does not bother me or the isolation gear....but I almost cannot tolerate closed curtains and closed rooms and it all of it together. I have to really talk myself through the day when I have a reverse isolation patient. And I ma the queen of fast baths ( I have to close the curtains and windows) so weird I know...but I do sympathize with you. You can work though it, I do every day.:lol2: