Pre-employment physicals

[Zobu]

It has been a long time since I had to look for work. Do facilities this days require pre-employment physicals or "fit tests"? And what does the test entail?

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Every place is different. My most recent job did not. When I worked in the hospital, the "pre-employment physical" amounted to a PPD and varicella titers. And yes, fit testing was included as well. Supposedly was an "annual" requirement but I did it once in the 5 years I was there. The PPDs were annual.

[proud nurse, BSN, RN]

I just had an employee physical that was more extensive than any other I've ever had. I had my height and weight checked, lung/abd/heart assessment, visual acuity, PPD, immunization hx, urine/blood CBC, FIT test, had to do some stretching/bending/jumping jacks/toe touches.

[shaylynclark719]

It has been a long time since I had to look for work. Do facilities this days require pre-employment physicals or "fit tests"? And what does the test entail?

I just got hired at a local hospital and they made me do a whole physical exam, PPD, fit test, ht/wt, and when I go back to get my PPD checked, a flu shot.

[Zobu]

What do you do in a fit test?

[dah doh, BSN, RN]

Besides a physical exam and lab testing, you are supposed to do fit testing. Fit testing at our facility is where they size you for your N95 mask that you wear in airbourne precaution rooms. They teach you to put on the mask then check fit by putting on a head enclosure called a hood. They spray nasty bitter solution into the hood while you do various movements like turn your head side to side, up and down, and bend over at the waist, etc. If you taste the sprayed solution or lose your hood during the testing, you fail and have to re-test on another day. It is required by OSHA if you do patient care to get fit tested. They do it annually at our facility in case you gain or lose a lot of weight for re-sizing. If you don't fit the masks or have a large amount of facial hair, you get fit for a PAPR device...looks like a haz-mat hood with its own air conditioning pack that you wear...it's awful!

[Zobu]

Oh..by "Fit test" I meant fitness for the physical aspects of the job....like do they have you demonstrate lifting...Jumping jacks...etc?

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Fit testing is what dah doh describes. My facility used to make you recite a stupid poem while they sprayed the nasty stuff into your hood.

No, you don't have to do jumping jacks. What part of nursing requires jumping jacks?

I once had an Occupational Health Nurse ask me to demonstrate bending and squatting but that was only because I was on lifting restrictions and being cleared to have them lifted.

[nervousnurse, ASN]

I'm curious, with the blood testing, what are they checking for? I've of course had the PPD, the fit test, and urine for drug screening, and I showed proof of titers/vaccinations, but never had blood tested.

I've been through some

*vigorous* physical tests (lifting, squatting, walking on treadmill, showing proper body mechanics, etc).

[dah doh, BSN, RN]

They do blood tests for titers. They do drug screening but I cannot recall if its on blood or urine. They to ppd as well. They don't make you do jumping jacks but may have you other movements to ensure you have normal range of motion, listen to your heart, lungs, and ask you other questions about your general health.