Critical Thinking For Med-surg nursing

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Just failed PBDS and lost my travel job. Had never heard of this test before nor did any of my former coworkers.So I tried doing some research and very hard to find info but I did find one book that might help. Apparantly critical thinking is the rage or becoming the rage for testing nurses.

The book will be released September 2006 and is by the F.A Davis co. priced at $31.95. The title is

Med-surg Success;A Course Review Applying Critical Thinking To Test Taking
Maybe this can help prepare any future PBDS test takers.

I did a google search on the title and it will bring up the website for the book. Please keep us informed if anyone buys this book and how you rate it....thanks

I just remembered something. There is a website- Pantravelers.org/survey. It has a list of hospitals by state that use PBDS. I am not sure if it is a complete list but it would be a start where you could check to see if the hospital you are going to is on this list.

Thanks Bozzie, I appreciate your input and suggestions. I have another question. I went to the websites that you mentioned and looked around and while i was there, I ran across a recruiter who is placing at the same hospital that I am going to. This recruiter is offering 3 more dollars an hour and 250.00 more a month tax free for the same department I am going to work in. I have not signed on with this company yet. Would it be a bad decision on my part to switch recruiters, or can I even do this? Or, can i negotiate a wage increase? This amounts to almost 700 a month more. Thanks

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Specializes in med/surg, ortho, dialysis, corrections.

Wow, good questions. I would talk to the recruiter offering better pay about it. Sometimes if you are told of a hospital by one company and another company snatches you up for the same hospital it is concidered theft of services or something along those lines. I don't know if it is an ethical decision or what. My personal feelings are if you can get a better deal from someone else that should be your business. Guess they don't want a bidding war. LOL

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Well, i have decided to stay with this company. So far, they are being great. No test taking, three shifts in a row, all guaranteed. All self schedule. Floating is on a rotating basis, which is what we do at our hospital. And all in writing. The pay is good, tax free stipend is good, travel pay is good, good benefits. They will pay me if i opt out of the health insurance which i already have it through my husband. The recruiter has been great so far. So far, this is a win win situation and I will actually be on a unit that will teach me some things. Now, I have not worked a night shift in years but I may enjoy that pace at first. I'm excited, scared, nervous but I'm giving it my best and may like it so much I'll extend my contract. Thanks for all your advice.

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Specializes in med/surg, ortho, dialysis, corrections.

That's wonderful that you were able to get such a good deal. Sometimes it isn't all about the money. If everything else about a job is great then maybe it's worth it to take a little less. You could be making the big bucks at a hospital that treats you like dirt, with an agency that isn't supportive and in disgusting housing. I actually work for a local agency when I am in my home town just so I can work at my favorite hospital so that means I have to forgo my housing stipend, which comes out to a lot of money I am not getting. But I would rather make less and be happy where I am working. Good luck to you.

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