Annual Physical - Does Your Job Require This?

[seconddegreebsn]

So I was notified by my supervisor that I was due for my annual physical. I asked what this entails and she was unable to give details. After seeing how poorly two pregnant coworkers and several nurses nearing retirement have been treated, I am extremely hesitant to share anything regarding my personal health with my employer. I perform my job with no limitations and have no diseases that would impact my employment there - everything else aside I don't really think is their business.

So I go to the physical and I'm handed a form with questions:

- what is your weight? Honey, my husband doesn't even know this and I'm not telling you. Frankly, I am not overweight, I have no obesity related illnesses, and I don't think my weight is my employer's business. They made a big stink when I refused to step on the scale and claimed it was for TB masks, but when I offered to re-do the mask fitting they backed down and said, "Well, as long as you haven't gained TOO much." That 's between me and a pint of Ben & Jerry's, thank you.

- Are you pregnant? I really hope no one answers this. It's a trap! When I am pregnant I am going to DENY until I have my FMLA approved because I have seen how they treat pregnant women at my job and it is shameful.

- What was the results of your last gyn exam? Thank you, but I prefer to not discuss my lady parts with my employer. I assure you there is nothing occurring with my lady parts that would in any way, shape or form affect my ability to perform my job. I wonder, do you ask male nurses about their last testicular exam, or did I just miss that question on the form?

- List every medication you are taking. If I was having issues with depression or anxiety that was being well controlled via medication, is that really my employer's business, especially if it doesn't affect my job performance?

The rest was making sure I was up to date on titers, testing for TB -both of which are perfectly reasonable.

Am I being overly sensitive in finding these questions far too personal? Is this typical for most places of employment?

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

My second job required a yearly physical, but you could get your personal MD sign off on it.

Notably they did do an RPR test among the initial employment labs. It was negative but what was the purpose?

While theoretically employee records were private, HIPAA had not been passed, and at one point, a very adversarial manager tried using some of my medical history against me and it was obvious that she had seen my private medical information. She "required" me see EAP twice, whereupon they complained about my manager being very inappropriate and misusing the system, to try and create an issue, where none existed.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

My job requires it. Its really not as much as,a big deal as you are making it.

It's not a big deal until you see them using those answers to weed out employees they don't want. I had stellar evaluations for five years at the first hospital I worked in. The sixth year, I was hospitalized and a member of the hospital board was a copatient, asking repeatedly where I worked. On the sixth year my evaluation was well below what I had before, and I was transferred out within six months.

[caliotter3]

prnqaday - Really? Asking people about their gyn exams isn't a big deal? Wanna tell me your last exam results? No big deal. You pregnant? How far along? Any STDs?

Last time I checked I'm a nurse, not a prostitute. I don't use my lady parts to perform my job, why do they need to know about it?

I'll bet the authorities in Germany (or elsewhere where prostitution is overseen by government) who check the medical exams of the working prostitutes do not go any further than seeing that the examiner signs off on them being disease-free and fit for work. Why would they need the gory details?

[jschut, BSN, RN]

While I've not had to have an annual "Physical" per say, I did have to do a screening for insurance purposes which required my weight and the like, but never pregnancy info, or latest female exam... that's just too personal.

[kidzcare]

Last time I checked I'm a nurse, not a prostitute. I don't use my lady parts to perform my job, why do they need to know about it?

Epic quote. Thank you for making me spit coffee at my computer.