Reasons why nurses fail medical exams..

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Hi! I'm a nurse from the Philippines and i want to work in the US. My concern is I have mild scoliosis. :( Is this going to affect my prospect of getting hired in the US? Also, what are the usual reasons nurses fail medical exams? Thanks.

I hate to break the news to you but no country will ever allow you entry if you have any highly contagious disease, including hepa B. This is exactly the reason why they conduct medical exams before they allow you to enter their country. They are very strict about this, especially in the US.

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I know someone close to me who have been a nurse in the Phil. for many years. Her blood is hepaB positive but never had physical manifestations. I don't know how she passed the medicals but she's working in US now as a nurse.

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Determining if someone could enter the US as an immigrant or not is determined only by an immigration or consular officer (basing it of course from the statements and decision of the physician who conducted the medical exams) if you read through their forms and packets. There are waivers for certain situations and you can always visit their website to know more about it. As a student nurse, I overheard some staff nurses on the floor stating that they have hepa-B (they allegedly got this from mishandling needles and stuff) and although they were screened and they thoroughly underwent medical check-ups, they were still allowed to work in a foreign land. So determining one's eligibility to work or migrate as a nurse is dependent and objective to the person interviewing you. Each case is unique and it doesn't mean either that just because one person with that disease was allowed entry everyone else with that disease will be allowed too. The truth of the matter is, during your medical exams, that is the only time you can find out. Your doctor should give you the heads up that something is wrong and during your interview you will also be told about it.

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Here is a link to the Technical Instructions to Panel Physicians for Medical Examinations of Aliens

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/pdf/ti-alien.pdf

Panel physicians are the doctors in Manila's US embassy who conduct the med ex. (In contrast, civil surgeons are the doctors authorized by the USCIS to conduct med exam on aliens in the US/permanent residents.)

Read the whole thing so you understand what the purpose of the med exam is. The whole point is to (1) protect the public from communicable diseases and (2)to avoid letting in people who will potentially be a burden to the government (e.g., psychos, drug addicts). After you read it, you will have a fair gauge of where you stand, and what to do is you have some medical problems.

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i have known someone, a medical technologist who is a hep. b carrier with no symptoms, she is now working in america.

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I have scoliosis too and hepa B positive. But scoliosis doesnt bother me much bcoz its not highly contagious. What bothers me is my hepa B. id suggest you consult your doctor for this. Thanks.

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US encourage people with disabilities to work and be productive, I dont think that would be a problem. Just go to your medical, goodluck!

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question below..

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What exactly happens in a medical exam? Sorry for my ignorance, this is for the benefit of curiosity (and naivete I guess).

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical.
What exactly happens in a medical exam? Sorry for my ignorance, this is for the benefit of curiosity (and naivete I guess).

They will do laboratory exams, chest x-rays, give immunizations, etc.

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What exactly happens in a medical exam? Sorry for my ignorance, this is for the benefit of curiosity (and naivete I guess).

That is exactly the reason why I posted above about this link:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/pdf/ti-alien.pdf

If you read that, it will give you exactly what the medical exam is all about, as instructed by the CDC to the panel physicians (MDs conducting med exam of visa applicants.

More related information can be found here (including required vaccinations):

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/panel.htm

I hope that helps. :)

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Thanks manangmdrn!:)

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