Do you have critical thinking exam after getting hired?

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Some hospitals give us a test that measure your critical thinking skills and your nursing judgement (not just simple medication calculation test). They give me a "live" senerio of the patients and lab values, then on your paper you have to write down medical diagnoses, interventions, anticipated orders from MD and the rational for the intervention. On top of these, they give you a senerio about the conflict with patients and let you write down how you will solve the conflict and how you will verbally response in the CUSTOMER SERVICE standpoint.

There is not pass or fail... But if you do not perform well on the test, you only have another chance to pass...

It is not only designed for new grads but also every new employee.

I thought when NCLEX was over.. then just keep good performance... but actually the crtical thinking exam is not over yet.. Gosh.. I really don't like the people who invent the test and sell it to the hospitals...

I just would like to know whether other hospitals across the US have this kind of tools for new employees. The name of the test is PBDS... some of you probably know about it.

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Actually, I just found more information about PBDS test from some thread in allnurses.com I will know the result of the test soon. I should have read about this before taking the test :angryfire

Although people said that no way you can prepare for it, if we study for it like studying for NCLEX... we should be able to perform better...

May be I should find a 2nd job just in case...

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since no one reply, I will just talk to myself...

If I fail, next time I will hit this "controversial assessment test" harder just studying the NCLEX.... It's not the end yet...

I will watch ER and other "live" medical. I study all popular disease for the exam.... at the same time look for a 2nd job...

But I am sure I will do OK.... They can't be hard on new grad... At least, I got two of the senerio right.. renal failure and digoxin toxicity....

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Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

I had to take the same test. Personally, I think it is a bunch of BS, but from what they told me it has no bearing on whether they will keep you or fire you. They told me it was to assess where you are clinically and critical think wise and they would develop our orientation around the test results to help us adjust better. I mean the scenarios they give you are just the most common things that might happen on your shift. If you just remember what you learned in school then it's not a problem. They will just come back and tell you what additional steps you can take if that situation arises. I really wasn't stressed out about the test, besides I was getting paid to take it :chuckle Don't let it get you down, even if you didn't do so well. The results will tell you where your strengths and weaknesses are. Good luck.

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I had to take the same test. Personally, I think it is a bunch of BS, but from what they told me it has no bearing on whether they will keep you or fire you. They told me it was to assess where you are clinically and critical think wise and they would develop our orientation around the test results to help us adjust better. I mean the scenarios they give you are just the most common things that might happen on your shift. If you just remember what you learned in school then it's not a problem. They will just come back and tell you what additional steps you can take if that situation arises. I really wasn't stressed out about the test, besides I was getting paid to take it :chuckle Don't let it get you down, even if you didn't do so well. The results will tell you where your strengths and weaknesses are. Good luck.

Thanks ckh23... Just wait to see the result then... I think it will be the waste of their time and money to fire someone just because he/she fail the test after extensive orientation anyway... Did you pass? Do they make you retake the test then? I think test is so subjective..... Since my primary langauge is not English, I really hate writing part of this test...especially, the conflict management that you have to make the appropriate verbal responses.

Just a reminder to those who passed the NCLEX... There may be this test waiting for you once you get hired in some hospitals. To me, it is a waste of the hospital's money.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

I have had to do these tests for travel assignments. They are not supposed to be used to hire and fire but they are, for us.

Supposedly, grading will also be based on your "experience level".

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Specializes in Transplant, Trauma/Surgical, Pre-reg.

I just recently went through the PBDS series and have more to do, too. I work for an HCA facility. Is this only done through HCA?

I received my results from the education department and had to take my results back to my preceptor so she could go over areas I needed additional teaching/help in. I can't say that the testing really made me a better nurse from this. I think it's a way for the education dept. and HCA to evaluate where you are as a nurse and file it away for JCAHO purposes. I was told the test results were not contingent on me retaining my employment at the hospital.

I hope this helps!

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
I just recently went through the PBDS series and have more to do, too. I work for an HCA facility. Is this only done through HCA?

I received my results from the education department and had to take my results back to my preceptor so she could go over areas I needed additional teaching/help in. I can't say that the testing really made me a better nurse from this. I think it's a way for the education dept. and HCA to evaluate where you are as a nurse and file it away for JCAHO purposes. I was told the test results were not contingent on me retaining my employment at the hospital.

I hope this helps!

No, it is done in some not for profits, also. And some hospitals do hire/fire based on the results, but not all.

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And some hospitals do hire/fire based on the results, but not all.

If people continue to use all kind of tests to test competency of nurses rather than looking at actual performance, I will not stay in nursing for long!! It is not fair that we have to go through all of these :angryfire

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