Hello, I just accepted a new travel position in the ER at Parkland in Dallas, TX. I have been traveling for over two years and been an ER nurse for 5 years.

I am posting because apparently the first day of our orientation we have to take three exams, a 75 question ER exam from basic knowledge to trauma, etc. a 45 ekg and cardiac exam, and a medication calculations exam. The only problem is the only study materials they provided were a list of discussion questions. I'm waiting to hear back from my agency who contacted them for any practice material.

I was wondering have any recent travelers taken this exam? How was it? Did the hospital supply you with good study material? I'd love any advice I can get to study the right type of material. Because these discussion questions I got are very broad topics, I'm not even sure if the test is multiple choice.

Any advice about how you prepared for the exam, the difficulty, did most travelers pass or do you have to remediate? Thanks in advance!

Isn't that the same hospital they took Kennedy too???

Isn't that the same hospital they took Kennedy too???

Also the home of the Parkland Burn Formula.

I would love to hear an update on how it went. I almost took a job there but heard a lot of bad things about ratios and short staffing to the extreme and safety stuff. I had never done a travel assignment yet at the time so I took a different assignment. So I am curious to know how it went. As far as the questions I would imagine it's the standards stuff, them making sure you can read EKG's and know your stuff. I would imagine they will have some form of study guide for you. Have you worked in a large trauma center before?? Best of luck to you and your endeavors!! :)

Yes I've done level one trauma before and traveled to both large and small facilities. All they provided was a blue print with discussion questions. Most places provide some kind of practice material for what to expect. I'm just gonna spend my week refreshing on stuff I haven't seen in a while. I have a friend that used to work there as a staff nurse and said it's gotten better than it used to be.

One of my best friends from nursing school worked in their ED as a new grad since she couldn't get a job around our area and stayed there for..uhh..3? Yea, 3ish years. Now she's at one of the other hospitals in the Dallas area in the ED. No idea about the test though. Sorry.

Yes I've done level one trauma before and traveled to both large and small facilities. All they provided was a blue print with discussion questions. Most places provide some kind of practice material for what to expect. I'm just gonna spend my week refreshing on stuff I haven't seen in a while. I have a friend that used to work there as a staff nurse and said it's gotten better than it used to be.

Well then I think you'll be good. I was only gonna say there might be a problem if you hadn't done a trauma center yet because of the size of that one and what their expectations might be. But since you've done big trauma centers and small facilities as well I think you'll be good regardless. The stuff I had heard was many years ago BTW, but I still would love to hear an update on your experience.

For sure I'll let y'all know!

It is an incredibly busy hospital, and you will see everything (Dallas county public hospital, adjacent to a not-so-nice area and the downtown area). I've heard that if you can hack it there, you can survive anywhere :)

Sorry OP, I've never worked there myself but I HAVE heard that its a good place to go simply for the experience. I haven't heard a specifically negative description of it....just that its very busy.

I did a travel nurse contract in their ER in 2009. I loved it. For the test study up medical math, and then if you have taken CEN or TNCC etc you will do fine. I did pass it, but there is a pretty high fail rate. It's worth it, because if you have Parkland (esp ER) on your resume you can write your own ticket anywhere. At the time each nurse had between 6 and 15 or so pts. That sounds like a lot but they make it work. Parkland really respects their nurses and makes sure their doctors listen to your opinion.

I have heard that the ratios are smaller now. Also it's a teaching hospital so the residents do a lot of our work so they get the practice. But you will see a lot. My attitude was "I gotta try this" and it worked out great for me. Only place I ever cryed when it was time for me to leave. They asked me to stay, but my husband wanted to get home.

Isn't that the same hospital they took Kennedy too???

And Oswald

Really????

Really????

Read "Conspiracy of Silence" by Charles Krenshaw he was an ER doc who was on both cases