Feeling the heat for not passing driver's DOT physical

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I am feeling very unsettled. Today I did not even complete DOT physical on a driver who I felt had risk factors. I passed this driver last year and worried about it all year. So today while doing the physical, I knew I could not even pass this person for 3 months in good conscience. Got called on this decision by the owner of the company,who stated he was going to call my employer. I kept my cool, explained my reasonings and it took all my composure to complete the remaining DOT physicals of the day. Don't these companies want the healthiest people driving children? I feel for the driver, but I referred him to the Occ health facility occasionally used by the company. i don't know if I can return to this company to do DOT physicals if they are going to question my decisions. Other companies I have done DOT physicals for have supported me and told the drivers if not passed, they need to see their own Dr's.

I am a fairly new NP working for 1&1/2 years. Sometimes lately I look back fondly on my RN assisted living position and pediatric home care work environment.

Thanks for any insight and response. As I have written, feeling quite unsettled.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

I commend you for sticking with your decision. I would have done the same. It's easy to feel intimidated by the bullying that company owner is giving you but think of the the possible consequences had you reversed your decision especially the risk to this driver and other innocent people's lives. Think of the ramifications this would have made if something bad actually happened to this driver and fingers were being pointed at you for letting him pass his DOT physical. You are a nurse practitioner now, that carries greater responsibility much higher than when you were a staff RN.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

A physical is something a person has done by a health professional saying that meet a certain standard. A DOT physical means that a person can drive an 18 wheeler. If a person can not meet the standards, then they can not function in that position. Imagine a driver slumped over because they have a BS of 20 or a HR of 30 with a 3rd degree HB. As a combat medic who has served in the middle east, any vehicle can make for a weapon, an 18 wheeler is heavy, fuel, and can crush cars.

SO no, dont feel bad if a person cant pass the physical, you have the publics safety in mind.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I think you are to be commended for sticking to your decision. Sometimes, the decisions we have to make aren't always popular but yes, you do have to look out for the interests of our children.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Agree with all the above posters.

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Specializes in ED, OR, Oncology.

I am glad to hear that someone is actually refusing to pass drivers on these. It doesn't take a genius to walk through a truck stop and see that someone is passing a lot of drivers who should be failing the physical. I am currently making the transition to nursing from being a driver/heavy equipment operator for the last 15 years. When someone catches a little flack at their physical, they get upset that some doctor is messing with their lively hood. Well, pretty much all careers require a person to continue to work to meet standards, whether it be education, protecting a professional license, etc.. Being able to pass that physical is part of the requirements of the job they knew from the start. I think that requirement needs to start being enforced. Thank you.

sam

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Thanks for all your helpful responses. My employer was supportive and stated that he does not mind if I don't pass someone and could not understand the harsh reaction from the company. He has spoken to the owner of the company and apparently they felt I was being difficult. I am a conscientious nurse and my goal is to ensure public safety safety, not just pass everyone to keep the company happy. However, to go through this this is upsetting and I do not not plan to return to that company to provide exams. I remember the words of the DR. that works with us-all this falls on you, when in doubt , do not pass.

I appreciate your time to respond.

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Specializes in Orthosurgery, Rehab, Homecare.

I'm glad you feel better about your decision. You did the right thing. Too many professionals feel bullied into making exceptions that should not be made. As a motorist on the road with those people you examine, I thank you.

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He has spoken to the owner of the company and apparently they felt I was being difficult.

You WERE being difficult. You failed a driver who deserved to fail, and now the owner has to find another driver - that's difficult. You failed a driver that now needs to find another job, and THAT'S difficult.

But do you want to know what would be REALLY difficult? Living with yourself if that driver plowed into a minivan with a family inside it. So to the owner saying that you were being difficult, I'd say..."tough."

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Thank you for failing him. Just Saturday night I took care of a commercial truck driver having his 9th AMI. He is 5'7", 308 pounds, smokes 3 packs a day, is a noncompliant insulin dependent diabetic and was eating a hamburger and "throwing bck a few beers" when he had the onset of chest pain this time.

I asked him "How on earth do you gt a CDL license with your health hx?" He said, verbatim quote: "It's easy, you just have to pass the physical."

I dropped it, but thought to myself, what jackass is passing this guy? He is going to kill someone, no doubt.

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Thanks for your all your responses. It's disheartening to encounter unhealthy people applying for a CDL license. Certainly puts me in a tough spot. I have people come in on controlled meds with no Dr. note. The company expects me to pass them. Sometimes the applicants are understanding of the regulations and other times not. I certainly don't want to be judgemental, but when someone comes in long time smoker, obese and short of breath just walking in the room, I know I most likely will not give the full year just due to risk factors. Chances are the B/P will be elevated. It even concerns me to allow a shorter time of licensing. It does not go over well to say, you need to see your own doctor. I am currently working in another part time position and if something else comes along, my plan is leave these DOT physical assignment.

I don't know how the above man passed, it would have been another story had he seen me!

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Thanks for all your helpful responses. My employer was supportive and stated that he does not mind if I don't pass someone and could not understand the harsh reaction from the company. He has spoken to the owner of the company and apparently they felt I was being difficult. I am a conscientious nurse and my goal is to ensure public safety safety, not just pass everyone to keep the company happy. However, to go through this this is upsetting and I do not not plan to return to that company to provide exams. I remember the words of the DR. that works with us-all this falls on you, when in doubt , do not pass.

I appreciate your time to respond.

I work in occupational health on occasion, so I know the system. I actually had a supervisor ask me why I couldn't Dermabond an amputated finger b/c he didn't want a recordable injury!

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