Nursing School Physical

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Specializes in Student.
Nursing School Physical

I am crying right now. I was accepted to nursing school this past March and feeling great about everything after having lost  my dad and my "career" job last year but just during the past few weeks, I've had sudden pain and swelling in two of my fingers that my doc says "may" be the beginning of peri-menopausal arthritis (I'm older but not that old).  This issue seems to have developed almost overnight and is so worrisome for me because I have my nursing school physical in just a few days! Over the past few weeks I've changed my diet and done acupuncture and chiropractic which seems to have helped but not cleared it up completely. I don't want to lie to the doctor at the physical but I have waited YEARS to be able to be in a place in my life where I have both the time and the money to put myself through nursing school and I don't want to be written off for this. I'm a good student and know I can be a great nurse.  Can anyone tell me what to expect in the physical or have any advice on how to to approach the conversation about my hand during the exam? This is so worrisome for me. Thanks.

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Specializes in oncology.

Our nursing physicals for school were pretty cursory. Is symptomatic treatment helping? can you hold a pencil, use two hands to  draw something up in a syringe?  

Edeninthetrees said:

I've had sudden pain and swelling in two of my fingers that my doc says "may" be the beginning of peri-menopausal arthritis

May be is NOT actual. Do remember accommodations can be made if these enable you to accomplish a task. 

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Specializes in Student.

Thanks for your response and perspective. I CAN write, hold things, and do most everything I normally do (I just washed the dishes!) but there is an intermittent, underlying dull pain and the movement in one of my fingers is slightly limited due to the swelling which also comes and goes. I was mimicking the movements of drawing up a syringe using a pen and I'm about 99% good. I don't think I'd hurt anyone or myself if it was real life. I suppose it's the idea that something is wrong with me at a time when I need to be in tiptop shape. I am older and had early graying of my hair starting in my 20's, so now I am fully gray and worry about people's perceptions, especially at this physical with an unknown doctor. At my regular physical last December, my doc said I was perfectly healthy and told me to see her in a year. I think I'm going to go take a bath and try to relax! 

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Specializes in oncology.
Edeninthetrees said:

. At my regular physical last December, my doc said I was perfectly healthy and told me to see her in a year. I think I'm going to go take a bath and try to relax! 

Please relax..these 'back to schools are innocuous. No worry.

I applaud you  for your description of what you CAN do! That is your focus!  Bring your vaccination record to your physical exam or wait  but not to the week before school starts. That is most important to the nursing schools. 

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Specializes in oncology.
Edeninthetrees said:

I've had sudden pain and swelling in two of my fingers that my doc says "may" be the beginning of peri-menopausal arthritis (I'm older but not that old). 

Your visit with that doctor was to see what was wrong. Your physical for nursing school is to say what is right!

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Specializes in Community health.

People are successful nurses with all kinds of disabilities and all kinds of ailments. Don't tell yourself this story about how you "have to be in tip top shape.”  Very few people are lucky enough to be in tip top shape! 

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Specializes in Post Acute, Home, Inpatient, Hospice/Pall Care.

One of my classmates in nursing school had a chronic, progressive lung disease and after our first semester she needed to be on oxygen. We all told her we would rally for her if they tried to do anything negative but it wasn't needed as accommodations were made to ensure her success and she passed both school and NCLEX. She had a double lung transplant and is lining her best life.

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It's been a long time but I think mine consisted of the doctor listening to heart and lung sounds, maybe testing reflexes.  Very basic.  I don't think you have anything to worry about.  Congrats on your new chapter in life and good luck!!

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Edeninthetrees said:

I am older and had early graying of my hair starting in my 20's, so now I am fully gray and worry about people's perceptions

Btw when I was in nursing school we had a lady in our class who was 62.  Apparently she mentioned to her husband that she wished she'd been a nurse, he said she couldn't do it, and she set out to prove him wrong!  
Now I know many 62yr olds look much younger.  But she had long white hair that she wore in a bun (with pearl combs!) and a pair of wire rimmed glasses that tended to slide down her nose.  Needless to say the patients were a bit surprised when she introduced herself as the student nurse!  ? Fortunately she didn't let it phase her, and it proved to be an icebreaker with her patients.  And she graduated right alongside us (then) 20-something's!  She's my go to reminder that it's never too late to follow our dreams! 

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

My mother-in-law had lapsing remitting Multiple Sclerosis, was partially blind and paralyzed on one side in 1960's.  Started on prednisone which resolved symptoms. She graduated from LPN school in 1972 and worked FT on a Med Surg unit for the next 10 years.

Nursing school physical is usually check heart, lungs, can you lift + transfer object, and check of immunization and communicable diseases.  Based on your self report of ADL's (activities of daily living) and prior physical, you should pass physical exam for nursing program entrance.

Best wishes in your journey. 

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