Zobu

It truly sounds like the facility you were working for is a toxic environment. Nurses shouldn't be fired because a patient falls as there is no way to prevent that unless you have a nurse sitting by the bedside 24-7. A lot of bed alarms don't go off until the patients feet hit the floor and by that time its often too late if you are at the other end of the hall.That was an unfair firing based on the info you gave. If you aren't in a right to work state...you might have a case. Personally I would NEVER disclose a disability to an employer....especially anything psychological as you will be stigmatized and possibly discriminated against.It is your ethical responsibility to assess your limitations....seek treatment. ...and evaluate your ability to deliver safe and effective nursing care. Keep your chin up...don't let this break your confidence. Keep trying to find your place. I worked in a hospital for several years where the community of nurses was very "high school"...politics were very toxic. I'm really enjoying my work in Home Health.

I am mostly wondering what employers do or will think? The BON of the 2 states I am licensed in only require refreshers if you have let your license expire and you havent worked in 3 or 4 years. I kept my license active and I have been enrolled in an RN to BSN the whole time. 15 years exp with a 2 year career break

How long can you be away from bedside nursing before they require a refresher course?

What is considered "recent experience" in nursing? I have been away from nursing for two years but have been enrolled in a BSN program the whole time. Will this be a barrier to re-employment?

I agree the questioning on licensure is ambiguous. My state just asks " Do you have or have you ever had a mental....physical.....to safely practice nursing? First...its not many that have never had a bout of depression or a broken something....And second....what type of nursing are they referring to? Bedside nursing which requires good musculoskeletal health or a non-clinical role you could do from a wheelchair.?? If you are walking, talking and arent holding an assault weapon cocked and ready to fire on yourself or the human race.....check "no" and move on. Unfortunately we nurses are not afforded the luxury of protection from invasion of our health privacy and job discrimination like our patients. Only you know if you are safe. Let your concious be your guide. It is no ones business what medications you are on.

Interesting. Im going into home health because Im hoping I can get away from constant walking. All these job descripts talk about being able to lift 50-75#. A HH nurse I know said she never needs to lift other than her nurse bag. I come from a hosp with a no lift policy and all these fancy lift devices. I refuse to lift more than 30-35 lbs by myself. ..let alone go to an fit exam and be expected to demonstrate lifting 50# . Honestly. ..I dont know if I can. And I sure aint gonna try. It astounds me that they would even ask! Am I destined for a desk job? Im passionate about direct patient care

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

What do you do in a fit test?

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?

Review EEOC disability guidelines. It is actually illegal for them to require a pre-employment physical. They can only ask you to have an exam once there has been a job offer. However, they can ask YOU if you meet all the essential functions of the job pre-employment.

What do they have you do?

Do HH agencies typically ask for pre- employment physicals or physical agility tests?