Today I had to go in for my physical for my CNA course. When I first walked back to the little room they put you in for exams, the nurse had equipment laid out for a pelvic exam. Um, NOPE! I let her know that I was in for a physical for school and that wont be needed.
The doc comes in and starts the physical and she tells me that it says on the paper for the physical that she is to do a pelvic exam...WHAT?? I explained to her that there is no way that she is doing a pelvic exam on me as I just had my yearly RECENTLY. She tried to talk me into doing it but no, it is not necessary!
What business is THAT of my school? Really? I understand illnesses and such, but a pelvic exam? Sounds like they are just being too nosey to me.:angryfire
And some of the other questions they asked were about my brothers and sisters. HUH? It asked on the form about their ages, health status..and blah blah blah... I was shocked that they wanted so much personal information. I can understand asking about my parents, but my siblings?
Am I just being over sensitive or are they just being plain nosey??
Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
Just curious as to why the school would care about a pap smear. It's a great thing for all women to have to protect their own health, but I find it a little bothersome that it is required. Just wondering if anyone could shed some light. TY.
It's been more than ten years, so I don't recall now if they gave a rationale or not. At the time, I was more interested in getting all my paperwork in!
Specializes in Emergency, Nursing Management, Auditing.
I remember looking at the form my MD had to fill out for my school physical before entering the nursing program at college, and seeing that there was a section for "rectal exam." I was MORTIFIED! My doctor simply wrote "deferred" on every section related to genitalia/rectum/that general vicinity... I thought it was awfully rude of the school to want to know about these parts! Hahah
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I never heard of this. My school wanted immunizations, blood work, titers and to know that I was physically able to handle the program. My forms never said anything about this, either. I would not be comfortable with my school knowing the condition of my genitalia, healthy or not. I can see asking questions about family because that is what a health history is about...but the rest...nah...
It's one thing to ask the questions if the school's health service are going to be your providers and want a complete history - but you still have the right to limit disclosure unless you actually do have to see someone regarding a particular problem.
When the school health service is not your provider (and mine isn't) there no need to know about things not relevant to your being a student and working as a nurse or CNA. I told them it was a HIPAA violation as far as I could figure it - I found the intrusiveness upsetting.
Family history? Well, if everyone in my family dropped dead of heart disease at 50, that shouldn't stop me from being a nurse in the time I had, and it would be my business to get preventative care, not the school's.
They are not treating us as professionals when they pry into health matters not relevant to our ability to do the work.
Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.
My school wanted a PAP. I wasn't too happy about it but did comply. A complete health history does include your family health history. It is fairly normal to ask about siblings health. You can always write, "decline to answer." Their health has no bearing on you being certified as a CNA.
Pelvic and rectal exams! what is wrong with these places? I just signed a form to say that i'm healthy, didn't even have to see a doctor or do any type of test.......
Only one school physical exam form had that body system listed, and the doctor filling out my paperwork wrote something like "normal" like he did for most of the form. Requiring pelvic exams and pap smears for school seems a little overboard as far as I'm concerned, unless of course, they are offering free medical care in cases where something is found that needs medical attention. But we all know the answer to that one. So somebody is going beyond the necessary and/or has a sick outlook. Do what has been suggested. Don't let them invade your privacy this way. If you take the form to your own doctor, he/she would probably be glad to write something acceptable on the form for you.
Pelvic and rectal exams! what is wrong with these places? I just signed a form to say that i'm healthy, didn't even have to see a doctor or do any type of test.......
Same here. Occy health spoke to one or two with 'issues', but other than our Hep/tb/tetorifice jabs, that was it.
CHATSDALE
4,177 Posts
do what you think is best
ask why the school wants this info..esp w/regards about pelvic exam
family hx is a usual thing but never have been required to the other