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Discussion

Question on physicals

This is my first post, so hi everyone! *waves* I have a question about pre-employment or post-offer physicals. If you are willing to pay the bill, will employers allow you to obtain the physical from your own physician?

The reason I ask is that several years ago I had severe pre-eclampsia and as you know blood pressure is one of the things effected by that condition. My son had to be born early and I was in ICU. Ultimately he is doing well and my blood pressure and health went back to normal following delivery. This situation was so scarey to me that it caused some sort of Post Traumatic Stress issue and now having my blood pressure taken triggers a lot of anxiety in me (linking it back to that event, I am sure). My blood pressure will elevate drastically when taken in clinical settings, by anyone other than my own doctor, then returns to normal after I leave. (I also check it myself and it is normal for me and for family members who check it, as well) I guess my own doctor is someone I trust so much that I don't get that same flashback of the hospital/illness I suffered or something.

I know I do not have hypertension, but I fear that if an employer makes me do the physical at their physician, I will have a temporarily elevated reading. Will I have the option of footing the bill and seeing my own doctor?

Thanks for any replies in advance. This is such an informative place.

Jenny

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    Everywhere that I have ever had to have a pre-employment physical has wanted me to have it done by their practitioner. I don't think they would keep you from working with them for hypertension; they would just recommend that you follow up with your own primary physician, especially if you explain that you have a severe case of "white coat syndrome". If they suggest follow up and you are compliant, I think you'd be fine.

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    • Author

    Do most nursing positions require the pre-employment/ post-offer physical? I am mainly interested in long term care or assisted living with the geriatric population. I don't know if that makes a difference (i.e. if different settings tend to require different things)?

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    Different employers handle the physicals different ways. Over the years, I've encountered everything from just the urine sample for the drug test and a quick questionnaire about whether I had any communicable diseases to a full, true history and physical (inc. all routine labs). Most employers seem to cluster down at the "bare minimum" end of the scale (urine sample for drug screen and little or nothing else). I would be v. surprised if anyone cared particularly that you had elevated BP at a pre-employment physical screening, and, even if they did, I'm sure it wouldn't go much further than encouraging you to follow up with your regular physician.

    Most potential employers don't care whether you're in good physical health or not, they just care that you're in good enough shape to show up and work and aren't going to transmit anything to the clients.

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    • Author

    Thanks, you both have made me feel so much better!

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    And, fwiw, it's usually post-offer. Hopefully that also puts your mind at ease. :) Good luck!

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    • Experts
    And, fwiw, it's usually post-offer. Hopefully that also puts your mind at ease. :) Good luck!

    In my experience, the physical is always post-offer, but it says somewhere in the "fine print" that the job offer is contingent on you passing the physical.

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