[koda]

I am currently traveling with Starmed and look to accept an assignment in Las Vegas in their critical care area. Was told by the interviewer that they give a BCAT exam to their critical care nurses. I have never heard of this exam. Anyone have any info? Any prep material available? Anyone heard of it? Taken it? Would like to know what I am to expect.
Thanks for your time . koda

[wv_nurse 2003]

If I remember correctly--its just a standardized, basic critical care exam. Its pretty general, some strips, meds, situation-type questions. If you've been working critical care I doubt you need to worry about it!

[koda]

Thank you for the prompt reply. I asppreciate it.

Koda

[rncopper]

The latest version is the BKAT-6, developed by Jean Roth, RN, from The Catholic University of American, Washington, DC. It is designed to be used as a screening tool and not a hiring/firing tool.

"Uses of the BKAT
The BKAT can be used prior to orientation classes in critical care nursing to identify needed content for the classes, and as a pretest and/or a posttest to measure learning in groups of nurses. It can also be used as a dependent variable to test different teaching methods for orientation classes, and as a means to identify content for in-service education programs for currently employed critical care nurses. In addition, it has been successfully used in nursing research and for advance placement of nurses with prior experience in critical care nursing, so that they do not have to attend classes which present content that they already know. The BKAT is only one measure of basic knowledge in critical care nursing and is not to be used in screening, hiring, or firing situations. It is copyrighted © and may not be altered, added to, or used in part Permission must be obtained to use the BKAT."

To request a copy of the BKAT-6:

"The BKAT is being provided at cost to nurses who work in critical care as a service to nursing and to the ministry that nursing represents. A payment of $11.50 is requested to cover photocopying, postage, handling, the BKAT Research Award, and the continued validity and reliablility testing. Permission to use the BKAT-6 and to photocopy it can be obtained by writing to Dr. Jean Toth, RN, The Catholic University of American, Washington, DC 20064 (toth@cua.edu)."

Good Luck

[koda]

RNCOPPER

Thank you so much for the information. My check is in the mail today for the material.