Has this happened to any of you? I'm shocked..

[Kellied1983]

So I had been offered a position at a large, regional hospital as an RN. During the physical I was required to divulge all of my medical history. I explained that four years ago I had had brain surgery, which required a laminectomy of my C1 and C2 vertebrae, and I was not supposed to lift any extremely heavy objects. The nurse at employee health told me that I must get a note from my doctor explaining how much I can and cannot lift. I told the nurse I could lift up to 70 pounds (i am 5'5 and weigh 105 pounds so that is a lot for me) she said that's fine and to get the note. I told my doctor what to write on the form and handed it in yesterday to employee health. After I did, another nurse from employee health sat me down and told me that Maryland State Law says Nurses must be able to lift 80 (!) pounds and over and since I couldn't, I couldn't do my job. I was shocked and became very upset! I spoke to her supervisor and the HR rep who'd hired me and I begged them to let me pretend I hadn't come in today and that I could get a note saying I had no restrictions, but they refused and retracted my job offer. I tearfully explained I had turned down many other job offers and had been told this was "no big deal". The HR rep told me, "I didn't know it would be this big of a deal." I feel like I was punished for being honest and am completely shocked. Does anyone have a similar experience? Am I really supposed to believe that all nurses can lift over 80 pounds? Thats almost my whole body weight. I am so scared they are going to call my board of nursing and tell them I have weight restrictions and they will put restrictions on my license. Can they do this? I talked to my doctor and he said he'd give me another note saying I had no weight restrictions, but this hospital told me "It doesn't matter, there's nothing you can do to change our mind." I cannot believe I lost my job over this. Any feedback you guys can give me would really help me. I guess I learned to just keep my mouth shut. But I was trying to build a relationship built on honesty...I guess that was naive.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

Well, you don't want to work for that hospital anyway.

I can lift a lot, but I'm not sure I can dead lift 80 pounds- not anymore. I can turn 80 lbs...

Seek another position, have your Dr rewrite the restriction for 80 lbs and enjoy your career as a nurse at another facility.

And don't worry about your license-it's fine.

Good luck!

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

i am unaware of any state board of nursing that has lifting requirement as part of licensing standards + not aware of any statewide job standard anywhere!

it is up to each employer to develop job descriptions including weight restrictions/lifting required. i'd go back to hr and demand to see facilities rn job requirements. i am aware my health system has 75lb lift in it's policy. if one does not disclose after job is offered at the time of employment physical, one can be terminated for falsification of records later if health issue arises that should have been disclosed during pre-employment physical. seek out employment lawyer if you feel ada right violated.

[color=#0000cc]the healthcare savings chronicle: the importance of accurate job ...

nurse’s lifting restriction: hospital ruled not liable for ...

job descriptions balance your needs with ada requirements - may ...

examples:

work is of heavy demand with lifting up to 100 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects up to 25-50 pounds.

activities required include frequent stooping, bending, pushing, pulling and reaching and occasional kneeling, crawling and squatting.

www.emeraldcitymedicalstaffing.com/job.html

job description for emergency department registered nurse

job descriptions

since you have an underlying health problem, seek out positions that minimize patient lifting: case management, state health departments, telephone triage, mental health, home health, utilization etc.

best of luck in finding the right position for you!

[catlynLPN]

I'd like to know who makes up those rules anyway!

When I first went to work on my job, years ago, they said I had to be able to lift something like 80-100 lbs. That's ridiculous. A person could injure their self trying to lift that amount of weight.

My DOG weighs about 28-29 lbs and he's a load to lift, just at that weight. I can't imagine having to triple his weight and lift it by myself.

[Jules A, MSN]

I'm sorry this happened to you. I wish I knew the best way to go about it in the future because honesty sure doesn't seem to be the best policy sometimes which is sad.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Ask to see their job description for RNs, and any board of nursing requirements they are quoting. I think they are scamming you because of liability.

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

I am really sorry you have had to go through this, it must be very distressing.

In the UK nurses are not allowed to lift, we have to use mechanical hoists and all have mandatory training to teach us how to use them, I find it really difficult to understand how in a country such as the US where litigation is such a huge concern to health care, your organisations insist that you lift pateints and put yourselves at risk of injury in doing so.

[santhony44, MSN, RN, NP]

I think I'd check with the Maryland BON myself. I've never heard of a state law requiring nurses to be able to lift a certain amount. Sounds really odd to me.

[Kellied1983]

Today I went back to the hospital (which was humiliating enough!) and asked to see the "Maryland lifting requirements for nurses" and what I received was a generic paper that stated nurses must be able to lift 50 pounds and over. Nothing specific and the paper was a computer print out..certainly not the Maryland Board of Nursing or anything. You know the funniest part of all this is that I shared this information because I DIDN'T want to be a liability. I was thinking in my head, "allright well I'll be able to lift as much as anyone else and if I or my coworkers need any help we can all work together to lift a patient and avoid future back problems." Now that I think about it that way I feel silly. I certainly have that funny feeling in my stomach that tells me the way this went down wasn't exactly kosher...but to be honest, I'm not sure I want to fight for a job in a place that so casually throw me out to the wolves. What do you guys think?

[sowelu88]

You can just walk away, learn, be aware and find a better place and job. It's good you went back and held them accountable for what they said (which was untrue!) and then they gave you proof. I would write a letter to the head of the HRD and just be honest as you were from the start. I would let them know what transpired, how you feel and that you will continue to be honest to people seeking employment who ask you about their institution. Put a copy of the "bogus letter" you got and then send a cc (carbon copy) of all of it to the director of the hospital or someone who has decsion power higher up that HR answers to. It's good that they were indirectly honest... or is that dishonest(?)huh. It's also good to let them know you know so you can stay honest and have closure. This could take an hour or so of your time and give you peace of mind and let the institution know where you stand. Find a better place. That's my vote! Good luck to you.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Maybe send a copy of the letter to the ADA chapter in your area. If someone else has a problem with that hospital they'll have a little extra ammunition.

[jml444]

I just went on an interview at a hospital in Baltimore this past Thursday and I was asked if I could lift at least 50 lbs because she said it was a state mandated thing that nurses must be able to lift at least 50 pounds - but not 75 !!!!!!!

Sounds like they are misinformed- intentionally - who knows?????

Are you planning on pointing this out to them?