Does This ED Tech Screening Question Seem Odd?

[ambz13]

Okay, so I was recently contacted by a nurse recruiter for a local hospital about an ED Tech job. I was thrilled since I have been wanting this particular job for the part 3-4 years.

So everything is going well and she wants to schedule an interview for the following week, but I have to complete a screening test.

This had the typical personality, reading, and math questions. Math and reading about 1 min per question timed. Except-- I came across one of the 7 or so math questions they had and this was it (verbatim):

If the measure, in degrees, of the three angles of a triangle are x, x+10, and 2x-6, the triangle must be...

a)iscosceles

b)equalateral

c)right

d)scalene

Honestly, I've only been out of high school for about 5 years, but what on earth!!?! I could not remember how to do this. Nevertheless, I did not get to schedule an interview because I got this wrong. The other questions were basic +/- x/dividing, decimals, etc. that were very simple and straightforward that I definitely got right.

My big question: How does this question adequately screen whether or not someone is a good fit for an ED Tech job?

I would appreciate any thoughts

-a

[Emergent, RN]

It does seem to be a very odd question. I don't remember this, and I was top of my class in geometry way back when. Can't see how it even remotely applies to anything in nursing.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

That question does seem odd. Questions related to pt care would seem more appropriate. Never had questions like that when I was applying for tech jobs, but when I took my nursing school entrance exam the science section had questions related to physics, electricity, and other things that seemed not related to nursing

[morte, LPN, LVN]

x+(x+10)+(2x-6)=270

x=66

haven't a clue why/how it applies.

probably a screener question, if you get it wrong, and they aren't interested, your gone. if they are, it goes away...

[ambz13]

Morte-- I absolutely thought the same, but why do that if she was the one who contacted me? Maybe someone more qualified came around.

Either way, I think I was set up for failure with that one especially with 1 min to answer haha

[Gabby-RN]

Per google... The sum of all the angles is 180:

x + (x+10) + 2x-6 = 180

4x + 4 = 180

4x = 176 x = 44.

The angles are then 44, 54 and 82

Answer is scalene.

That is the most random screening question ever. I would have gotten it wrong.

[ambz13]

Once I looked into it I could see that it's a pretty easy question in regards the the math, but not something most people would know off the top of their head.

It's very frustrating. After I took it the recruiter ignored my email, left me hanging for a day, and then I finally got an automated message saying I won't get an interview due to my results on the screening test and not to respond to the email. Very unprofessional imo.

[Gabby-RN]

Once I looked into it I could see that it's a pretty easy question in regards the the math but not something most people would know off the top of their head. It's very frustrating. After I took it the recruiter ignored my email, left me hanging for a day, and then I finally got an automated message saying I won't get an interview due to my results on the screening test and not to respond to the email. Very unprofessional imo.[/quote']

Could it be possible that there were other answers on the screening test that you answered differently than they wanted? It seems strange they would screen out a candidate for one wrong answer.

[kanzi monkey]

Totally ridiculous. And yet hilarious. I actually laughed out loud :-)

[smartnurse1982]

so is the answer 66 or what gabby said?

[ambz13]

That's entirely possible Gabby-RN. I have no idea. I thought I answered the questions pretty well, but maybe not well enough.

'Strongly agree' for statements that would be good for job and 'strongly disagree' for things that would be terrible for the job. I thought the other math and reading questions were straightforward and simple but I suppose I could have fumbled somewhere.

Not sure what to do at this point except reapply at a later date or work at a different ED while getting my RN? I have an interview for a different ED on Tuesday. Fingers crossed!

[Gabby-RN]

That's entirely possible Gabby-RN. I have no idea. I thought I answered the questions pretty well but maybe not well enough. 'Strongly agree' for statements that would be good for job and 'strongly disagree' for things that would be terrible for the job. I thought the other math and reading questions were straightforward and simple but I suppose I could have fumbled somewhere. Not sure what to do at this point except reapply at a later date or work at a different ED while getting my RN? I have an interview for a different ED on Tuesday. Fingers crossed! [/quote']

More than likely it was the other questions, not the math. My hospital for example is looking for a specific "personality type" for their ED when they hire new staff and ask a group of behavioral questions to narrow down candidates that they think will fit in with their vision for the department. I have known a couple great nurses that haven't passed the questionnaire the 1st time and we couldn't figure it out because they are great nurses. They ask a lot of questions to basically see if you will be a team player and get along well with the other staff because that is what they see is most important versus experience and pre-employment skill set. It would be very easy for someone who is a great worker to "fail" their questionnaire just because they answered a couple questions in a way that makes them seem like a person who works better independently or maybe are confrontational.

Good luck on your next interview. If you do decide to apply at the first hospital again maybe go on the hospital website and read they mission and vision statement to find out what they look for in employees.