Post job-offer physical, new graduate nurse

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello,

I finished nursing school, and was offered a position at a major hospital in my area. I have to go and complete a physical on Tuesday.

The paperwork obviously has a lot of questions, and I checked the boxes for back pain and headaches, but wrote "occasional" by them...

Will I have issues? I don't want to lose this job... I'm just worried if they see back pain, then they'll turn against me....

Please soothe my anxiety....

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

You should be fine as long as your UDS isn't full of THC or Morphine.

Hppy

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
You should be fine as long as your UDS isn't full of THC or Morphine.

Hppy

Or if it is in your urine that you have a script. :) This is an interesting topic. I don't get my physical until I have a written offer in hand and would probably not disclose a health condition like headache or back pain unless they were a chronic, severe and previously documented issue. My concern, perhaps unfounded, would be if you ever injure your back for example the hospital might be able to say "not our problem chica admitted to back issues prior to even stepping foot in our lobby". Hopefully others will write in with advice and experiences. Congrats on the new job btw!

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Or if it is in your urine that you have a script. :) This is an interesting topic. I don't get my physical until I have a written offer in hand and would probably not disclose a health condition like headache or back pain unless they were a chronic, severe and previously documented issue. My concern, perhaps unfounded, would be if you ever injure your back for example the hospital might be able to say "not our problem chica admitted to back issues prior to even stepping foot in our lobby". Hopefully others will write in with advice and experiences. Congrats on the new job btw!

I tend to agree but even if you have a script they can still deny you the job. There is actually case law that supports employers right to have a drug free workplace that includes legally obtained prescription drugs and marijuana

Hppy

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I agree with the PP. If I have the occasional backache or headache, I would not check those boxes. Those things are just part of life. Just as in going to the doctor, if a backache is why you're there, of course you check the box. But if is not a long-term, chronic, unmanageable issue, I don't check it. Goodness knows we all have way too many diagnoses in our EMR these days. Some are accurate and applicable, some are not.

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