PBDS woes

I have to agree with all ya'll. PBDS stinks. I had to take it about 2 weeks after I graduated, and didn't really know what it was all about at the time. I completely agree that it's insulting. Even as a new grad, I found it offensive. Plus, I do not feel that it actually measures competency or knowledge. The way the questions are asked can be misleading, too. I actually passed it, but hated every minute of it. I have been considering getting into traveling, and I do not plan to take it again. Do you think they would make someone take it again who has already passed it? Would they make you take it again at each new facility?

I took PBDS at Pitt in Greenville, NC, summer of 2006 and passed, but I think a couple of nurses in my group failed it. My biggest complaint was how it was handled...we were told we'd know first thing next morning and it was well along in the afternoon before anyone found out. It's a very poor assessment, IMO.

It depends on the hospital- some hospitals will accept your passing the test at another facility, some won't.

Ugh, I'm about to go tackle this demon. I am NOT amused after sitting through hospital orientation all week that taught me to say please and thank you..now I have to do this. I'm licensed and have experience with good references. Isn't that enough?

Jan. 22, 2009
I am a nurse with 16 yrs experience. I work as a local area agency nurse as house float (MICU, SICU, ER, PACU, Med/surg, tele). I have been doing that for the last 7 yrs. I just took the critical care pbds test at Greenville, NC yesterday and found out that I failed. I am from Ohio and packed everything up for a 13 week assignment in their MICU. My agency (Advantage RN) is sending me home with no job available. I am the horror story that everyone needs to know. Hindsight 20/20.....It is ok to take this exam, however, do it in you own state or just fly to the assignment stay 2 nights and go home after the exam. Get your results at home while you still have a job and do not incur the expenses, time, travel, and inconvienance of moving 4 states away just to move back in 4 days! I was not prepared for the test, I was told it was a trivial standards of care test. I took the exam after driving 12 hours the day before, and the testing facilities were cold and undesirable to say the least. I did not receive any time of results except that I failed (go home). I have no idea how I did, but after preparing to leave home for 13 weeks, 12 hour drive, in a city I know nothing about, taking the exam in a 50 degree trailer in winter. I hope that I spelled my name correctly and got that right. I hope every nurse reads this or hears about it so they are not in the pickle that I am in today. Thank you

You are better off without Craven - Trust me!
I will only accept PBDS in a contract if I can take it locally
and it is scored by one of the outside contractors.

OK so call me dense. I've only been in the medical field for 40+ years and just the last 13 + as a nurse.
What the heck is PBDS!
Sarge

Okay, it was GRUELING and long and thank goodness I type extremely fast.. I passed and even got positive comments on my 'critical thinking' section. They only had two things that I missed on there. I'm a bit shocked. But..it was a very long test.

From what I have gather, alot of the Magnet Hospitals are using this test. I have been offered 2 different jobs and turned both down because of it. I have to say that my company does provide coaching and a personal refresher the weekend before the test. I have taken them up on it and I don't know that I will.
I did read, that the woman who designed the test has voiced her anger on the test being used against travelers in the manner that it is being used. She designed it as a tool to help nurses, not hurt them.
I know that we are are looking for positions but as a profession, we really need to stand together on this issue.

I have taken the test in three facilities, Tx, Co and Tn and passed it in each. None of these were Magnet or appeared to have any aspiration as a Magnet hospital. HCA tends to use it but not in all states.

There is a partial list of hospitals on Pan Travelers and some general study guides.

However if it is not graded by an outside contractor there is potential for abuse. I try to avoid it on contracts, if you have to take it just try to literally spell out every single ABC intervention for every scenerio presented.