UPMC - PSB-RN Exam

U.S.A. Pennsylvania

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Has anyone taken the PSB-RN Exam for the UPMC nursing programs? I took mine today and am not sure how I did.

There was not enough time to finish the verbal, spatial, math section. I didn't think it was hard, but I only finished 52 out of 90 questions in 30 minutes. I'm worried that won't be enough regardless how many I got correct of the ones I did. Minimum score is 60th percentile, but I don't know what the average is.

I finished both the science and reading comprehension sections within the time limit and I thought both of those were fairly easy. Vocab/spelling was the most difficult, but we won't be graded on that section.

I got my test results in:

Reading Comphrension: 99th percentile

Sciences: 95th

Spelling/Vocab: 88th

Vocational adjustment: 83rd

Math: 36th !!!

That obviously rules out Shadyside. Looking into CCAC now.

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Specializes in transplant/case management.

You can retake the psb again. Im sorry your math score wasn't what you wanted :-(

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Can I retake it for this fall? I was under the impression that you could only take it once a year.

I got an "A" in Algebra. I think I was spending too much time working out the trickier problems instead of just passing over them and doing all of the easier ones first. The exam wasn't hard, but it was timed - 90 questions in 30 minutes.

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Specializes in transplant/case management.

I found this on mercy's website:

Those not meeting the standard the first time will have one additional opportunity to retest at an additional cost of $35.

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During my exam they said you can take it a second time, but that there is a waiting period. I believe that it is 60 days. There were people retaking individual sections during my test. You may want to check with them because they may require you to take a math class in between those times.

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Just took my PSB-RN test for st. margaret. Not sure how I did, and am very worried. I was wondering if any of you knew how the test is graded. In the arithmetic section, which was the very first section. I didnt finish many questions. I finished just 31, and im pretty sure i saw 60 bubbles. Does it matter how many you do? I have been researching all day about this damn test, not much info obtained. I was wondering if you should skip the questions you dont know, rather then guess. Do wrong anwsers reflect your grade? or is it just how many right you have? Im so confused and worried! any info is greatly appreciative

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@snow_bear,

I would count myself lucky for dodging the Shadyside SON bullet. Trust me- I still have the bleeding wounds to prove that I didn't dodge it. But, if you really want to go there, have you called them to see if in fact the exam was scored properly? You just have such high scores in the other areas. I know that you said that you skipped some but I think that it's worth it. I don't know who all is still there but call Natalie. Natalie is very nice and even if she can't recheck it, she will be humane about it. Yes, you can retake a section but have to jump through a lot of hoops. Not sure if it's take a math class at CCAC or some tutoring class at Chatham.

My unsolicited advice is go to CCAC. They are crazy too but not at all as self-esteem shredding and soul-destroying as SSON. "Crushin' Dreams Since 1884" should be their motto. I have never seen so many people getting on anti-depressants and/or anti-anxiety meds just to make it through that program!

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Specializes in transplant/case management.
@snow_bear,

I would count myself lucky for dodging the Shadyside SON bullet. Trust me- I still have the bleeding wounds to prove that I didn't dodge it. But, if you really want to go there, have you called them to see if in fact the exam was scored properly? You just have such high scores in the other areas. I know that you said that you skipped some but I think that it's worth it. I don't know who all is still there but call Natalie. Natalie is very nice and even if she can't recheck it, she will be humane about it. Yes, you can retake a section but have to jump through a lot of hoops. Not sure if it's take a math class at CCAC or some tutoring class at Chatham.

My unsolicited advice is go to CCAC. They are crazy too but not at all as self-esteem shredding and soul-destroying as SSON. "Crushin' Dreams Since 1884" should be their motto. I have never seen so many people getting on anti-depressants and/or anti-anxiety meds just to make it through that program!

What's so brutal about shadyside? I'm going to be going to Mercy. Are they similar?

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Specializes in LTC, MH/MR, Home Health.

The information about restesting at Shadyside said that you have to have proof of remediation or have 60 days pass before you can restest in the failed section.

I got my results back last week and passed! not too bad for being out of school for 23 years. the science section was brutal - the recommended study book did not help much in that section at all, if you ask me.

I have most of my admission stuff together - need to write my essay/paragraph part of it and collect my recommendations.

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I took my test then too. I also have been researching about the test. I had to retest in the science. There were 90 questions and 30 minutes. I know I answered 70 of them for sure possibly more. I'm hoping I pass.

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i took mercy on the 14th, and shadyside on the 21st...in case anyone is doing the same, please be aware that they were the exact same test. i thought they would be completely different versions and was shocked when i sat down at shadyside and realized it was identical. on another note, i am so anxious waiting for my mercy results...it will be 2 weeks tomorrow and i am getting very impatient!!!

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Well Thank goodness at least someone agrees w me about Shadyside!!! To me , the school seems a "set-up" and possibly a fund raiser for UPMC. Remember, as a non-profit, UPMC can actually have an income, however, they must offset it with a cost or expense. One of the ways they offset this cost or expense is that they "provide funding for education"-namely in the form of tuition reimbursement. For example, they make 1 million, but then claim they are non-profit because they donated this 1 million to tuition expenses. So, into the picture comes UPMC shadyside school of nursing. Multiple students, I'm guessing probably 50-80% are receiving tuition reimbursement because they work for UPMC already, or possibly because their spouse or parent works for UPMC. In these cases, UPMC is educating their own employees for free (yes, and all at the expense of the unsuspecting student like myself who ends up working their ass off to be eligible to graduate here with honors, then the school kicks them out out for no reason, expells them from the school, because they claim they broke (when they did not) some totally ridiculous, unfair, unreasonable, and probably illegal "rule" which is contained in their approximately 200 page "rule book", which they regularly spend tons of money on every semester to reprint and issue to students-CHANGING THE RULES EVERY SEMESTER. Absolutely ridiculous . Also, think of how many of the school's own students are actually related to teachers at the school (when I was there, at least two of the teachers there even admitted to the class that their kids were enrolling in the school!!! Do you think they would be treated the same way I was treated??? The school has probably a hundred or so full and part time teachers , so likely this occurs often) I'm surprised Pitt main campus got bomb threats and not UPMC Shadyside school of Nursing!!! STUDENTS, you are doing it to yourself if you tolerate this unfairness!! Get together, hire a lawyer, fight for freedom and equality in the court system-for fair education- and the red white and blue that so many young guys (and women) are dying for overseas!! They gave their lives for our freedoms (and some maybe not their lives but they will never be the same). Won't you at least try to fight some? The fight occurs no only overseas, but here in our own country. Do your part!!!!! It's more important now than ever before. With rising tuition costs, and lower paying jobs (or no jobs) when you graduate, it is vital to fight. If you think this school (or any other school) treated you unfairly-in enrollment, in grading, in expelling you or kicking you out for some "rule violation", if they gave favoritism to other students while "throwing the book" at you, for the sake of millions who are mortgaging their futures to pay tuition in the hopes of a better future, fight it (in the legal system, not with bomb threats please!!)!!!! Contact an attorney, contact PA Dept of Education, contact US Dept of Education!! Let them know what is going on!!!

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