What does the pre-employment physical usually involve?

Nurses Job Hunt

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Hi Everybody,

I just got off the phone, following an interview yesterday, and was told by the floor manager at a long term care facility that she had two available positions. I picked the one that would allow me to learn the most and still have some available nursing supervision. She said she would now turn it over to HR and they would do my background check.

I have heard of the pre-employment physical and assume they will be doing one. Could someone please tell me how this is handled- do I pay? Do I go to my own doctor? Is it just titers and PPD's like in nursing school?

Thanks in advance for any input!

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Larger facilities/medical groups often perform the pre-employment physical at an occupational health center or in house employee health. Smaller facilities and agencies (such as private duty, staffing, or home health agencies) have the new employee submit a completed physical form stating fitness for duty from their PCP (at the new employee's cost). If you are a new grad the titers you had completed for nursing school would be acceptable (usually MMR, varicella, recent TDaP vaccine). You will need a new tb screen, usually a two-step tb screen (two negative skin tests two weeks apart). If you had a two step for school and were retested regularly then you'll likely just need a repeat test at least 6 months from the previous negative test. Most facilities require a drug screen for drugs of abuse. Other facilities require a lifting test (to ensure you are fit for duty and can safely lift the required minimum weight)

Good luck. Human resources will tell you the procedures for the facility. Good luck

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whatdoIdonow? said:
Hi Everybody, I just got off the phone, following an interview yesterday, and was told by the floor manager at a long term care facility that she had two available positions. I picked the one that would allow me to learn the most and still have some available nursing supervision. She said she would now turn it over to HR and they would do my background check. I have heard of the pre-employment physical and assume they will be doing one. Could someone please tell me how this is handled- do I pay? Do I go to my own doctor? Is it just titers and PPD's like in nursing school? Thanks in advance for any input!

Hi ? congrats on the new job. I'm a new grad too and will begin my 1st job Monday in labor and delivery ahhh so exciting. Anyway allow me to answer how the pre employment screening goes in a hospital setting bc I just had mine 2 days ago. They will want you to bring a record if your immunizations. You will get a regular physical (in my case by the NP in employee heAlth) I did not pay for any of this, it's inside and the employer pays. I was also fitted for a TB mask and they spray a sugar solution in your face to make sure the mask fits properly LOL while your head is in a plastic tube. Bizarre but that's how it goes. There will also be a 2 step ppd. After this I went to the lab to give blood and urine samples for drug testing. Then went to pt to do a 'lifting' test if 30 and 50 pounds LOL bc that's what pts weigh of course hehe. After that came back 2 days later to have ppd read. Then again in a week to get the next step and then again for the read. You shouldn't have to pay for any part if it. There will also b back ground checks You also don't have to pay for that. Good luck!!!

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Thank you for the reply! My possible job will be in long term care/rehab (a stepping stone, I hope). I have heard about the TB mask fitting-found out about that just this week (on Wednesday I had a phlebotomy continuing ed class and one of the fellow students had just been fitted for hers).

My particular concern was with the physical exam. I'm 47, overweight, possibly starting on some health issue (my BP and sugar have been borderline with the stress of school and now job hunting because they were all fine before I began this journey). I wondered about the details of the physical exam-what they check-and what would eliminate me.

As for the lift test, I first heard of that one when I filled out an application for this one ritzy facility. They didn't tell us how much we had to lift, just that we had to pass the test and couldn't hold them responsible if we were injured by the test. I asked the receptionist if they expected me to bench press something lol. She mentioned 30 lbs. So, in your test, did you lift a person (pt)? Were they checking your technique as well? Good to know- I'll look over that it's been awhile since I've transferred anyone.

I appreciate the info. Congrats to you too on you new job!!

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Usual lifting is 25-50 lb box --carry over few feet.

That's weight range in my staffs job description. ;)

99% my obese candidates pass easily.

Typical exam for working in healthcare facility includes:

  • Medical history
  • Occupational history
  • Physical examination + lab test
  • Baseline monitoring for specific exposures to gases/radiation
  • Drug testing
  • Respirator fit testing and pulmonary function testing
  • TB Testing
  • Immunizations: Flu, Varicella, MMR, Tdap, and HEP B
  • Determination of fitness to work wearing protective equipment

Explanation typical exam:

http://healthcareexpress.us/services/occupational-medicine/pre-employment-physical-exams/

http://www1.genesishealth.com/occhealth/dot.aspx

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Thank you Everybody! This was very helpful!

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I had to do a drug screen, provide my immunization titers, have my blood pressure taken, and had to do a lift test and a wheelchair pushing test. That's what I remember from my pre-employment. The most I had to lift was 50 pounds. Surely, anyone can lift 50 pounds, which is a joke given that patients are much heavier than 50 pounds.

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Wheelchair push??

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It's no big deal really. The person just put some weights in the wheelchair and had me push and pull the wheelchair.

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I heard back from them and they said I had to walk on a treadmill (stress test?), do a wheelchair push, and something about 5 lbs, maybe it was 50 lbs.

When I googled wheelchair test, I read about the handicapped and pushing the wheels fast for aerobic workout-their version of a treadmill walk.

Hope it's the push you described!

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Survived the pre-employment physical. I rode an exercise machine- feet and arms moving at same time type for six minutes. Then I had to lift a milk crate with 20lbs in it from the floor to waist to above head to waist to floor five times-stopping at the waist the last time to take a walk carrying it around the room. Then pushed someone in a wheel chair. Then squatted for 60 seconds- the hardest part for me! lol

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Yikes! That sounds pretty involved. Not looking forward to mine.

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