I'm really sad guys.. I interviewed and got a verbal offer from this hospital a month ago. So took me about an entire month to do all the screening/background checks/drug test, physical. Mind you their physical test I had to run, check my heart rate after i run, do a lung capacity test, thumb/ grip strength test, hearing/vision, flexibility, pull, lift, squat. I live 2 hours away from this hospital, so I"ve been driving back and forth many times. So I called and asked HR if this was a pretty sure thing after I completed most of their requirements and they said just pending your physical, but yes, it shouldn't be an issue. Ive done many physicals for hospitals in the past and they were pretty easy, and I pass without any issues. The manager told me it's fine, and even told me I should be able to start by next month and when to go to orientation. The manager even told me when to sign the offer letter once HR clears me on my physical. So I found housing, put down a huge deposit for rent, signed a housing agreement. Not until a week ago, the HR called me back and said I failed their lift test. Scheduled me to go back again for lift test with a pully and weights. So I called around and was confused as to what the weight lift requirements were. and they said I failed because they required 50 lbs WITH EASE. (meaning you cannot look like you're struggling lifting 50 lbs). and its suppose to be a new policy that they implemented.. Mind you i'm a healthy young and petite girl..So I lifted again and only lifted to 40 lbs with ease and the PT stopped me. I begged her to let me try 45-50 but she stopped me and "didn't want me to struggle" but in my head I knew I lost my job offer. so today i called my potential landlord and lost deposit money of $500..
i'm really upset right now. I've never even heard of such a lift test policy for hospitals. I really wished they told me it was a 50 lb requirement and potentially a lot of people may not pass this test. but no one told me until I called HR and asked. Apparently HR is the one who looks at the scale and chart and determine if my score "matches' their requirement and tell me if i'm safe enough to perform this job. I"ve worked as a nurse for awhile now and I have no issues lifting. I just ask for help! They can potentially eliminate hiring anyone with injuries, older nurses, pregnant nurses. i just feel like i didn't go to school for years to get rejected from a job b/c i cant lift 10 more lbs and that i have a petite frame, i'm tall and less than 120.... I looked at the scores of the lift test, apparently other females failed this test too. why on earth is this happening..?! i'm really sad right now, I feel really blindsided. can someone please give me guidance.
Our hospital does the same kind of test, and I also am not a big fan of it....if they expect you to lift 50lbs why do they invest in costly lifts? I've always considered lifting patients other "than a boost up in bed" to be risky anyway...not to the lifter...but too the liftee...excatly what part of this frail old man did you want me to hang on to? Or should I be giving him the world's biggest wedgie?
Many are caught up on the lifting, but the vision, grip, running, hearing, lift squat, etc are equally disturbing. We have possible gender, disability and no freakin pregnant woman??? Are we back in the fifties. We fought long and hard against these so called "test". Not to mention age discrimination? This is bogus and please report today. I would be happy to look into this and right away. Peace,
Our hospital does the same kind of test, and I also am not a big fan of it....if they expect you to lift 50lbs why do they invest in costly lifts? I've always considered lifting patients other "than a boost up in bed" to be risky anyway...not to the lifter...but too the liftee...excatly what part of this frail old man did you want me to hang on to? Or should I be giving him the world's biggest wedgie?
Or skin tear. Or dislocated shoulder. Or fear. And so on...
Hiring practices should be public domain. Would just love it if Allnurses had a section like Glassdoor.com in which we all could build a fact based data dump on facilities.
I would call this test pretty silly. Also, it's pretty rude of them to offer you the job, tell you that's all ok, allow to go along spending time and money for the position, then blindside you with this "test." However, I would have trouble putting the label "discrimiation" on this or their practice.
Check the ADA. Why I asked her what institution. This is possible gender, age discrimination and absolutely violates the disability act. Nursing does not require any of these test. And even if these test were to be legal, then accommodation must too be in place. Military and police are two exceptions.
I have to say this is ridiculous. Unless you plan on working the entire med/surg unit by yourself. Seriously, I wonder if you pass if you say "I would not feel comfortable lifting this alone, at this point I would ask my co-workers for assistance". I'm not particularly petite 5'10 and 160 before I got pregnant but sometimes it still takes 2-3 people to safely lift a patient. I do have to kind of disagree with people who say this kind of test automatically eliminates pregnant women, I am still able to lift a substantial amount of weight and do not see it as a major disability. But there are some of my co-workers who are barely 5 ft tall and i doubt weigh 100lbs. Asking them to safely lift half their body weight is unreasonable, there is always help available if you know when to ask.
If not I would like to see them start requiring short people to be able to jump and safely reach a box of a shelf 80" off the floor.
Our hospital had a similar test for a short time for employees returning to work after medical leave. After they managed to "lay off" everyone they wanted who couldn't pass the test, suddenly it wasn't a priority anymore.
No asthmatics allowed, cant pass the lung function test. Preggers belong in the kitchen. Woman should be barefoot and pregnant anyway, all they are good for. Over 40, you are losing your grip, cant run, have HTN, pulse a little fast, not like the young ones. Fat people, we can't use you either. Can't move fast enough or flexible enough to touch your toes. Can you even see them...nope vision off too. Diabetics, your vision, grips, and potential to fall due to neuropathy, hypoglycemia is too great. Deaf folks, oh, pleeze, you can't hear the alarms, plus your balance is off. You had what 10 years ago, sorry, fail. Perfect as we see it, only need apply.
No asthmatics allowed, cant pass the lung function test. Preggers belong in the kitchen. Woman should be barefoot and pregnant anyway, all they are good for. Over 40, you are losing your grip, cant run, have HTN, pulse a little fast, not like the young ones. Fat people, we can't use you either. Can't move fast enough or flexible enough to touch your toes. Can you even see them...nope vision off too. Diabetics, your vision, grips, and potential to fall due to neuropathy, hypoglycemia is too great. Deaf folks, oh, pleeze, you can't hear the alarms, plus your balance is off. You had what 10 years ago, sorry, fail. Perfect as we see it, only need apply.
No asthmatics allowed, cant pass the lung function test. Preggers belong in the kitchen. Woman should be barefoot and pregnant anyway, all they are good for. Over 40, you are losing your grip, cant run, have HTN, pulse a little fast, not like the young ones. Fat people, we can't use you either. Can't move fast enough or flexible enough to touch your toes. Can you even see them...nope vision off too. Diabetics, your vision, grips, and potential to fall due to neuropathy, hypoglycemia is too great. Deaf folks, oh, pleeze, you can't hear the alarms, plus your balance is off. You had what 10 years ago, sorry, fail. Perfect as we see it, only need apply.
Stop taking this crap, enough is enough.
thanks for the good laugh. my first laugh of the day. i didnt even realize they were trying to eliminate all those conditions!
Very sorry for your loss & the treatment you received. However, I think this is a blessing in disguise. I wouldn't want to work at a place who views nurses only as work horses. Did they check your teeth, gallop, and canter as well?
nebrgirl
133 Posts
Our hospital does the same kind of test, and I also am not a big fan of it....if they expect you to lift 50lbs why do they invest in costly lifts? I've always considered lifting patients other "than a boost up in bed" to be risky anyway...not to the lifter...but too the liftee...excatly what part of this frail old man did you want me to hang on to? Or should I be giving him the world's biggest wedgie?