Physical for new job-question

[BellaBlackwell]

I was offered a caregiver job at a personal care home. They require the typical 2-step TB, drug screen, and lifting test, but at this place it seems they're a little more intense with a physical exam too.

I have my share of health issues, and when I list them all out like I'm afraid I'm going to have to do, it really seems overwhelming (as does my medication list which includes a few prescribed controlled substances), but none of these should really affect my ability to perform.

I have been discriminated against in the past regarding my health and I dont want it to happen again. Do I have to share literally everything?

my experiences with my health issues is what made me want to become a nurse in the first place. I want to fight back, and I fear that this physical is going to ruin this opportunity for me.

Advice? Insight? And how involved can these physicals get?

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

Every companies pre-employment health screening policy is different. I have had some when I went in for a physical and it was literally a set of vitals and UDS. Another where I filled out paperwork about my current and past health history, current medications, conditions, blood draws, physical assessment of systems including a ROM assessment, TB, UDS, mask fitting, etc. My husband went to one for a job working as a service engineer for a medical manufacturer and it was similar. The HR person told him that in order to fail he would have to not pass his UDS and pretty much be unable to walk.

As long as your condition will not affect your ability to perform the duties of your job, I don't think there would be an issue.

As far as your medications go, you will want to disclose them at the time of the UDS so that they will expect the results for those specific items (if tested) to be positive. Most likely they will contact your pharmacy and confirm that you do have a legal prescription for the medications. Some facilities may have rules that some medications can not be used while providing care, so this is something that you would want to check with your employer if that is the case (For example, narcotic pain meds or potent anxiety medications).

[brillohead, ADN, RN]

My last two pre-employment physicals included a TB test, peeing in a cup, standard vision/color blindness test, vitals, then in to see a NP/PA to listen to lungs/heart, glance in eyes/ears, bend over and touch below your knees, twist torso left/right, and cough/check for hernia.

I think most of my patients in the hospital could pass the pre-employment physical!

Don't worry about it, and don't leave anything off your list.

If you leave something off, you could be fired "for cause" down the road, or denied unemployment or worker's compensation if you're injured on the job -- even if your injury had NOTHING to do with your pre-existing conditions/medications.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Just be honest. If it doesn't work out it was not meant to be.