Is a physical exam required before being licensed as an LPN

BeachsideRN, ASN · Oct 7, 2015

I cannot vouch for Florida, but MOST schools of nursing (and employers) will require a physical assessment from a physician that states that your daughter can meet the physical demands and technical standards of being a nurse. i.e. can she stand for long periods of time, lift objects, move patients, etc. Regardless of her medical history, if she is unable to do those things she may have difficulty getting into a clinical program, however not impossible.

BeachsideRN, ASN · Oct 7, 2015

Also if she is currently taking medication daily it might have to be disclosed to the board and have the prescribing physician "sign off" that she is stable and competent while taking the medication. Major depression would have to be disclosed but is not a game ender

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Oct 7, 2015

She will most likely have to get a physical before she enrolls in a program. I'm not in Florida but in Texas they only ask about major mental health disorders (such as bipolar, schizophrenia, etc). It is not guaranteed that she will land an office job after graduation. Most doctor's offices hire MAs & sometimes LVNs. Generally they want experience.

quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN · Oct 7, 2015

I would suggest that you obtain a copy of the physical form that the school will require your daughter to have. As has been said, it mainly wants to know if you are physically and mentally capable of handling the duties of a nurse. I know many nurses who are being treated for depression and anxiety and were able to successfully complete school as well as being successful nurses. The physical form does not ask about that. At least not in my area. They do want the immunizations up to date.

As far as a physical before taking the NCLEX, not as far as I know. That would be something to find out from the Florida BON, but I am sure the nursing school would have the answer to that. Now, for employment after earning the license, many places do ask for a physical similar to the one prior to nursing school.

kenny_longtin · Oct 7, 2015

Thank you for the answers. I WELCOME ANY FROM STATE OF FL IN PARTICULAR.

As far as desk jobs, my daughter wants to get the LPN before she gets a patient advocacy/navigator type of training/certificate from a univ. (which is much likely to be a desk type of thing).

I looked at the application for the BON NCLEX (LPN) for the state of FL.

It appears to NOT ask about past medical (physical) history at all, correct? So her back issues would not even be divulged -- how could it be because, correct me if I am wrong (OTHERS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE FL LPN TEST), there are no questions about past medical history.

As to mental health question on the application - it APPEARS TO ONLY ask if she has had a psychiatric disorder that has inferfered with her nursing ? She can honestly answer NO on this, correct? Since she has only suffered major depression and it has never interfered with nursing (since she's never worked as a nurse); so she could honestly answer NO, correct?

Sorry if I continue to be confused. Hoping to get some State of FL feedback

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Oct 7, 2015

Thank you for the answers. I WELCOME ANY FROM STATE OF FL IN PARTICULAR.
As far as desk jobs, my daughter wants to get the LPN before she gets a patient advocacy/navigator type of training/certificate from a univ. (which is much likely to be a desk type of thing).
I looked at the application for the BON NCLEX (LPN) for the state of FL.
It appears to NOT ask about past medical (physical) history at all, correct? So her back issues would not even be divulged -- how could it be because, correct me if I am wrong (OTHERS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE FL LPN TEST), there are no questions about past medical history.
As to mental health question on the application - it APPEARS TO ONLY ask if she has had a psychiatric disorder that has inferfered with her nursing ? She can honestly answer NO on this, correct? Since she has only suffered major depression and it has never interfered with nursing (since she's never worked as a nurse); so she could honestly answer NO, correct?
Sorry if I continue to be confused. Hoping to get some State of FL feedback

Why not inquire directly with FL Board of Nursing? You can do so anonymously.

A patient advocacy/navigator online certification is not a guarantee of a desk job. And generally not a job for someone without case management, social work or nursing experience. If your daughter needs a desk job perhaps consider a different educational path? In order to get through nursing school she will need to pass clinical rotations which require lifting, moving, a lot of standing, waking, twisting, bending in other words physical labor is a strong component

BeachsideRN, ASN · Oct 7, 2015

Thank you for the answers. I WELCOME ANY FROM STATE OF FL IN PARTICULAR.
As far as desk jobs, my daughter wants to get the LPN before she gets a patient advocacy/navigator type of training/certificate from a univ. (which is much likely to be a desk type of thing).
I looked at the application for the BON NCLEX (LPN) for the state of FL.
It appears to NOT ask about past medical (physical) history at all, correct? So her back issues would not even be divulged -- how could it be because, correct me if I am wrong (OTHERS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE FL LPN TEST), there are no questions about past medical history.
As to mental health question on the application - it APPEARS TO ONLY ask if she has had a psychiatric disorder that has inferfered with her nursing ? She can honestly answer NO on this, correct? Since she has only suffered major depression and it has never interfered with nursing (since she's never worked as a nurse); so she could honestly answer NO, correct?
Sorry if I continue to be confused. Hoping to get some State of FL feedback

the nclex board may not ask, but the school she is doing clinicsal education at likely requires a physical. Also, the question typically asks if the disorder interferes with ability to be a nurse or something along those lines - because obviously anyone applying for initial licensure has not worked as a nurse before.

kenny_longtin · Oct 8, 2015

This is probably a stupid question but -- to get a job as nurse --- is the candidate required to disclose to the prospective employer (or give permission for full disclosure) of all the candidate's past medical records? The school my daughter is applying to is being very cryptic. They wrote me an answer that to get a job as a nurse, she would have to disclose all her medical records to the employer. This cannot be true??? I think the school meant the hospital or clinic hiring her would require another phys. exam but how can they require disclosure of all her medical records? Is that standard when getting a nursing position?

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Oct 8, 2015

If you need accommodations you may need to disclose. Medications, especially controlled substances, may need to be disclosed to an independent medical officer to satisfy drug testing requirements. Most employers require a fitness for duty certification which may necessitate disclosure of orthopedic conditions. She will need a medical clearance to be able to perform the physical duties of nursing school clinical a such as CPR, bending, reaching, lifting, carrying, twisting, long periods of standing. Minimal reasonable accommodations are available in an entry to practice nursing program but to avail of any the student {not the parent) must self-identify to the office of student disabilities & accommodations per section 504

Why are you calling on behalf of your daughter? Schools and facilities are much more likely to have an amicable conversation with a potential student rather than a parent.

kenny_longtin · Oct 8, 2015

Most doctor's offices hire MAs & sometimes LVNs. Generally they want experience."

Sorry by MA - you mean "medical assistant"? "LVN" is another way of saying LPN, correct, which is what she is seeking.

My daughter says she really wants to be a medical case manager/ patient advocate/navigator (growing field apparently). Yes of course experience is needed but you got to get it somewhere. The first job in any field very hard to find. She thinks getting the LPN will help her get better patient advocate positions (as well as entering a certificate program for pt advocacy).

I know she could take the approach of getting a masters in social work but that is a much longer program and much more expensive !!!! than LPN. (Like $40,000 more)

We researched this a lot on Pt advocate forums and on many employment sites. Requirements for patient advocate in hospital for example, often includes nursing degree. RN is preferred of course but we have seen a fair amount of LPN acceptable.

She is prepared to wait it out and try to find a desk job with insurance company, hospital, etc etc. - it is a second income for her family. Again a nursing LPN just to improve one's credentials (even without employment experience) is a lot less expensive than a masters in social work.

I just hope if she applies for a patient advocacy position or nurse case mgr position (particularly in a hospital), she would not have to take a phys ex or sign a form to release all medical records? She has no problems with walking and sitting for long periods at any rate, though she should definitely not do a job that requires lifting of patients.

Hope this makes sense and is helping others. Don't want to spend the $6000 on nursing school if she cannot use it. Looks like if she gets past the school phys ex, then she should have no program with the nursing license questions and again, hopefully if she applies for a non-clinical job, she would not have to be in the same excellent shape, back wise, as other nurses.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Oct 8, 2015

Very few facilities will hire an inexperienced person as a case manager. The strong majority require minimum RN/BSN or MSW/LSW and certification as a clinical case manager (online patient navigator course is not applicable). Many hospitals won't even hire an LPN any longer, only CNA/PCT and RN. Most hospital case managers are RN/BSN or MSW and eligible for CCM certification. (LPNs are not eligible for CCM)

She WILL have to lift, move, transfer patients as a practical nursing student. If she cannot she may not pass the program.

Of course LPN is cheaper than BSN or MSW as its a vocational diploma instead of a collegiate degree. It's more likely a larger cost and time difference as a bachelor's ranges from $25,000-$60,000 and a graduate degree even more.

Most clinic hire medical assistance who are trained on the job or in a 6-18 month technical program and may or may not have certification or registration.

Usually the minimum lift is at least 50lbs for nursing school/nursing jobs.