Physical exam question

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Mar 16, 2004

Again... This too sounds a little odd.

Noney · Mar 16, 2004

What a coincidence! Another new poster asked almost the question about rectal exams during vag. exams. :)

Noney

pat29 · Mar 17, 2004

Odd bazar whatever you want to call it....it really happened

ceecel.dee, MSN, RN · Mar 27, 2004

Pat,

You seem a bit fixated on your feeling of embarrassment. You went in asking for a physical, and that is what you got. Some practitioners believe that if the patient is male, they have a prostate and it will be checked. They will automatically check a female's breasts, regardless of her age.

Trust me, your embarrassment is wasted energy. They do so many of these exams, or clean up after so many of them, they are in auto pilot about attaching any feeling to them. (However, waiting to clean up a room until the patient is actually gone, seems to be more correct in the etiquette department.)

DOCS RN · May 18, 2004

Pat29, no this is definately not normal. A rectal/prostate exam is not required for an employment physical. It just like requiring a female to have a pelvic and breast exam for employment. I would question this person and administration with regard to this practice and persue it to the end. The practioner was very much out of line.

camay1221_RN · May 19, 2004

I have a friend with a 21 year old who was dx with testicular cancer as a result of abnormal finding on a routine exam. Granted, it wasn't for his job, but take some comfort in knowing, had there been something there, her thoroughness could have saved your life.

Yes she was very through!! and the job physical did not require most of what she did it was very embarassing to have to get the exam with a female doc I am asking if it is normal to get a prostate exam at under 40

Paul12 · Nov 5, 2005

Would women be happen with a thorough check if just for a job that they had to have some male doctor doing a thorough lady partsl inspection? Would they be saying "gee I’m glad that doctor gave me such a thorough exam"? No they would be calling their lawyers to sue the doctor.

Porcupine · Dec 17, 2005

I realize you may have been embarrassed, but you should be thankful to have her providing the best care she could. My last "physical" was a joke.

The whole event took about 15 min., including being weighed and blood sample. I have had more complete examinations when I was a kid getting

ready for summer camp. This doctor has been giving me physicals now for

3 years. Each year, the exam gets shorter and less informative.

Needless to say, I have changed doctors and I will be getting a real exam

as soon as my insurance will let me. I want, and expect, a complete physical examination. The doctor, the nurses and whoever may embarrass

me, but it will not be as embarrassing as needlessly dying at an early age.

Some day you may look back and be grateful.

Porcupine

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Dec 17, 2005

... Would women be happen with a thorough check if just for a job that they had to have some male doctor doing a thorough lady partsl inspection? Would they be saying "gee I’m glad that doctor gave me such a thorough exam"? ...

Sorta reminds me of that SNL skit where Mel Gibson played the gynecologist.

Porcupine · Dec 17, 2005

If they were smart they would.

angelique777 · Apr 22, 2006

Personally if it where me, for a job physical, anything that is that invasive I would refuse stating that is why I have a primary physician for that detail of an exam. I would have to refuse and say its out of the norm for such an invasive exam for a job. Blood test general physical OK. On a job physical the male physician wanted to do a breast exam I said it was not necessary for the job and I had a physical with my doctor who already checked my breast.

Just my opinion since I am very private and picky about who gives me a physical.

Angela

brian2901 · Jun 13, 2006

You might think of it this way. Some agencies require this and it is included in the paperwok for the examining practitioner. I have worked at the same Fire department for the last thirteen years. I was 19 when I was hired, I had to have full physical with rectal exam and colonoscopy. Worse yet, we get physicals every year and get the same thing every year minus the colonoscopy, which after the first time goes to an every five years event. Comical part is when I was hired at the hospital PRN my entry physical was a three day event. I'm like everyone else, it's embarassing, but it's one of those things in life. Kinda like death and taxes