PBDS woes

I took the test at Pitt Memorial in Greenville, NC. The hospital states that it cost them $150 for me to take the test (that is 3rd hand information tho). My agency does not know now if they will reimburse any of my expenses. $200 round trip for gas, $250 for the hotel for 4 nights(it actually was a nice hotel) $230 for the NC nursing license, $198 for the Physical (they will require you to get a FIT testing for respirator & you have to have a pulmonary function test done by your physician. Also you have to have a chicken pox titer or vacine). Travelers: if you are so secure in your test taking abilities and can take a test in the conditions I decribed earlier. Willing to chance @ $1000 of expenses upfront. Take the PBDS assignment. What was I thinking?

I was required to take this exam for one of the Texas Health Resources (THR) hospitals in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. They make all travelers take it in the THR system. I passed, but thought it was a pretty long exam. For the most part it wasn't very difficult to identify the medical diagnosis (which you are required to do), but from what i hear,... they like for your to be very detailed on what you should do (i.e. nursing interventions) and your rationale for those nursing interventions. In my opinion, this is what made the test difficulty for me. It was a good thing I can type really fast because the test is timed.

To me, it felt like for each video/case scenario, you had to type out a pretty lengthy care plan... very similar to the ones i did for my clinicals in nursing school. I think there were like 4 or 5 video scenarios... so, imagine trying to fill out 4 or 5 lengthy/detailed care plans, and that's what the PBDS test is like.

There are other parts of the exam where they give you a video scenario (e.g. an infiltrated iv site), and they ask you for a brief description of what you should do (e.g. d/c IV)... but that part of the exam is pretty easy and straight forward. I think it's the video scenarios where you're expected to make the medical dx and appropriate nursing interventions section where most nurses have difficulty.

I took the PBDS designated for ICU nurses, and i believe there are separate ones for med/surg and peds, etc... I've also heard that each ICU exam is the same and each med/surg exam is the same, etc...

I wouldn't mind taking another travel assignment that would require the PBDS, but i would definitely study beforehand and not underestimate it!!!!

I am took the "Critical Care" exam and I can assure you there were no "give me" questions i.e. iv infiltrations. There were 10-11 videos of very distress patients. After 12 hour drive and being in a 50 degree room, I was in no mood to take a 4 1/2 hour exam to Medically manage patients. This is my 1st travel assignment & I had alot of other things on my mind to say the least. The additional stress was not welcomed. Glad you passed, but I am not ready to take a chance like that ever again.

This is a copy of the letter that I received 3 weeks after I lost the contract with the agency after failing the pbds test. The only thing I changed was the recruiters name and put in the agency name (AdvantageRN).

Hi Greg!!

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you! Hope you made it home ok. My Director and CEO will not reimburse for any travel or medicals because of the PBDS test. Greg, I have fought for you but its not my decision. They told me if I could find you another contract we would gladly pay you back for your medicals. At this point I am sure you don’t want to work with me or Advantage RN, and even if you did I don’t currently have anything in Ohio, or remotely close. I will call you tomorrow morning when I get in and we can go over all this. Sorry for the bad news Greg!

Recruiter's Name(AdvantageRN)

This is appalling for SO many reasons! Where to start!?

No reimbursement?

Sent in an EMAIL? Not on the phone?

I hope you called them and gave them what-for.

Dispicable.

I refuse to go to any facility that requires this test. I have heard a lot of people failing at Pitt in Greenville,NC. They make it very hard to pass. I think they use it to "weed" out the people they decide they do not want. There should NOT be any required testing. If you have good references and experience that should be enough.

Being from NC I know that Pitt and Craven require the test. I'm not sure about Duke, Wake Med, Baptist, or UNC.

UNITE TOGETHER AND STOP THIS TESTING!!!!!!!!!

I agree, the test stinks, but it is also unreasonable for many to turn down work in this day and age. I have personally taken the test 5 times. I have it memorized. I know the patient's names and situations for each video vignette. I'm sure the intention is not to measure my memorization skills, and every time I tell the facility that it really won't measure my critical thinking skills at this point, they all say I have to sit for it any way. Then, as predicted, I ace the test by giving them all of the key words they need. Upon review, they say wow, we've never had a score that high before. Give me a break. I'm not that smart. I try getting out of it, and when I can't, I tell myself I'm getting paid well to take it. Some day, some one will realize the test is not worth the expense and that a one on one interview with a clinical nurse specialist for the unit/area of hire would probably tell a lot more about a potential new hire/traveler's ability to think critically. In the mean time, google it. There has been a lot of info posted with some pretty specific hints and study guides. You can prepare yourself thoroughly by looking up certain disease processes, consider the most critical actions, and the rationales for those actions. Also, think N-Clexy... in other words, don't put anyone else in the room with you. The patient in the video is your only patient. The info given is the only info you should react to. And another thing... Hemlytc reaction, hpR-glcmia/DKA, ilius/ bwel perf, dig tox, thrmbcytpnia, IICP, pnmothrax, ARF, autnmic dysrflxia, CVA, pain. Now then, honestly, the purpose of the test is to measure your ability to think critically, and to determine how much orientation you will require. The expectation is that travelers won't require much orientation, and therefore should do especially well on the test. The facilities that use PBDS pay good money for the testing, and believe in the product. I did too, the first time.

I took the PBDS and I did not have any problems at all. I'm not a good test taker either. My company gave me a great review and my recruiter sent me over a great study guide. 2 out of the 10 people that took the test in our orientation didn't show up the next day, so I am guessing that they didn't pass. My best advice is to study and review with the educator that your company should have. This is only my 2nd year of nursing. Good luck to all!!

Kristen

I took the test for Pitt County on Monday. 8 of us passed the test. Did you have a good review before you went? The only reason that I ask is because my company gave me a review guide and I studied with their nurse educator. Sorry to hear about your misfortune,

Kristen

I took this test for a hospital in Wilmington, NC. It was awful. I just found out I failed and have to take it again. I am a new grad and was not told about the testing until the first day of orientation...which happened to be one or two days before the test. I have never heard of this kind of testing. I did not get a study session, nor a study guide. I still do not know what I was deficient in to help me when I retake it. I fail to see how this test helps me. I have been given a 6 wk orientation with the failing score. I wonder how long the orientation would be for a new grad who passed the test...3 weeks? That is unacceptable.