Taking the BKAT-6 test?

U.S.A. Nevada

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Hi-I recently have hired on to a Las Vegas hospital in their ER dept as a traveler for a 13 week stay-I was told that I have to take this 100 question BKAT-6 test. What is this test-I know it is for critical nursing and sort of a eval on my knowledge but I also heard it is very hard and if you fail they cancel your contract with them. Anyone know of this and the test?

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Specializes in pediatrics/PICU.

Hi, kiddo! I give the BKAT to our new nurses in PICU. We don't fire them, but we evaluate what they scored high in and know what to look for. It is a great test that reveals what you know about critical care. It is nothing to be ashamed of if you don't score high; it just reveals where you need work! Ask me more specific questions if you are interested.:D

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Specializes in pediatrics/PICU.

What hospital are you at anyway?

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Thanks for some info on the BKAT test-I am going to start at Summerlin in the ER as a traveler for 13 weeks. What hospital are you at?

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I know you said you do not fire them but how about your travelers-are they treated any different? This is my first travel assignment ever-I have been nursing for 14 years but most of that in Med/Surg and only 2 years in the ER. AS you can tell I am a little nervous.

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Specializes in pediatrics/PICU.

We don't give the travelers the BKAT. Do you have any PICU experience? Summerlin is a nice hospital. As for travelers, we treat them pretty good. We keep in contact with a couple of them that passed through. They renewed their contracts several times with us.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I do not have any PICU experience-I do have my NRP and PALS and ACLS but no ICU at all-thanks for all your info-wish me luck-I am permanately moving to Vegas in June with my fiance who already lives there-we are getting married May 23. I look so forward to my big plans and move and will not miss the cold and snow here in North Dakota. Maybe our paths will cross sometime?

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Hi, kiddo! I give the BKAT to our new nurses in PICU. We don't fire them, but we evaluate what they scored high in and know what to look for. It is a great test that reveals what you know about critical care. It is nothing to be ashamed of if you don't score high; it just reveals where you need work! Ask me more specific questions if you are interested.:D

Sammy,

I hear that some hospitals are using BKAT to "weed out" nurses who are not up to par. They give the test pre-hire and if the nurse scores low or do not pass, then they are not hired. I know that the author specifically states that it is not intended for pre-hire but for orientation. How do you feel about pre-hire testings, such as use of BKAT or drug /drug calculation test, in general?

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