Any info on PBDS?

deespoohbear · Sep 25, 2002

and the suits are trying to figure out why there is a nursing shortage.

well, duh!!! it is because of crap like this, people!!!

just my .02.

RNinICU · Sep 25, 2002

Another thing that bothers me about this is the fact that it can be misused. It is not supposed to be used as a reason to fire some one, only to evaluate them and individualize their orientation to meet their needs. There has been one person in my facility who was moved to a different unit based on her follow up testing. Her problem was test taking, not nursing skills. I see firing someone based on these tests as the next step.

I have been a preceptor for a long time, and I think I can evaluate my orientees by observing and working with them. I think these testing methods are unfair and inaccurate, and only serve to add to a new person's anxiety.

There are plenty of other ways to document competence for JCAHO, without using this type of program.

eak16 · Sep 25, 2002

I had to take the PBDS version for CNA's before i got my current job and it was pretty much the same. The thing that bothered me was that my nurse managers pretty much ignored the results. (I "passed"). One straight out told me that he has known great RN's who did horrible on it and horrible RN's who did great.

If nurses hate, it, it is expensive, and managers dont regard it well, why do they keep it?

Hmmm....why are scrubs cartoony?

Some of the great why's of nursing....

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Sep 26, 2002

Thank you!!!

I'll let you know the results of my "research" into PBDS. Also, will let you know how the "meeting" goes.... :devil:

JacelRN, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2004

Hello fellow graduates,

I have a question for all those currently working for a hospital. We are part of this new program to retain nurses called PBDS. During nursing orientation, we have to sit down to watch a tape of various medical situations and then evaluate what is going on with the patient and what we as nurses would do or say. I don't know if anyone else has had to go through this but it felt like torture to me. Not only do I not test well, I am expected after only several short months of actual nursing to know this stuff.

If anyone has gone through it and know what I'm talking about, did you have to be reassessed? I have heard many do and it is their idea of promoting nurses retention and securing professional nurses. It seems like just another test to me!

Please tell me I'm not the only miserable one here

JacelRN

RN2Be · Jul 23, 2004

I took the PBDS as well about 2 days ago. We were told it was just to see how they needed to customize our preceptorships. They said that they used to cover a set amount of material with all new grads, but they thought that this assessment would be better taylored to your individual strengths and weaknesses. Personally, most of it wasn't too hard but some of the video clips were quite a challenge. It kind of felt like a harder version of the NCLEX. I am just glad it's over....:)

sjt9721, BSN, RN · Aug 7, 2004

They don't expect you to "know all this stuff" at the end of your two months or however long. Your responses will be rated according to your level of experience.

The key to PBDS is 'keep the patient safe'. You need to examine the clues given in the scenario, identify the problem, & list your priority nursing interventions. You'll also need to anticipate orders you would receive including labs, meds, xrays, etc. But remember...they know that you have minimal experience and you are not expected to know everything.

Relax...think about it...and treat the patient that you see on the video.

Good luck!!:)

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Aug 24, 2004

BUT they do take into account past experience as LPN, medic, ect.

my friend was a paramedic, and she was graded more harshly since she was a medic before she became a GN. a GN with no medical experience can answer one thing and its ok... if a GN who used to be a medic answers it, they can say that the care isn't as advanced as it should be, as in she should have drawn from past experience.

christibb1225 · Oct 31, 2006

I have taken the PBDS twice & it sucks. The first time I was totally unprepared. The 2nd time I studied my butt off & still had "some weaknesses". You must watch the 2-3min. video clip of a pt. coughing, sweating, etc. & look at labs, VS, etc & then come up with a "medical diagnosis". Not a nursing diagnosis. Like CHF, ARF, etc. Then in one box to left you type everything you would do for the pt. & on the right you type in the rational. Ex. why VS (what you are looking for). On one pt. I forgot to put O2 for hypovolemia. My thing is that there is no way in hell you can remember every single thing you would do for every pt. in the few minutes you have to test. During the test you remember things to add (neuro checks, peripheral pulses, etc) but it is too late to go back. I am feeling like I am at the end of my rope because I do fine on the floor. This is just for a part-time position & I am jumping through hoops to be a nurse when I thought there was a nursing shortage!!! I was on 4weeks orientation & now I have to be on 2 more weeks because of that stupid test. I am ready to tell them to shove it but I really need the extra cash & the hospital is 5 min. from my house. All that this PBDS is going to do is discourage nurses & discourage people from wanting to go to nursing school. Who wants to do all this crap for around $50K a year when you can have a gravy desk job? Signed: extremely disgruntled nurse!

Mulan · Oct 31, 2006

Thank y'all very much!!! I knew ALLNURSES would help... you always do--great bunch of folks. I plan to do an advanced search at the college on Performance Based Data Systems and Dorothy DelBueno.

so, did your school incorporate pbds into the program?

Mulan · Oct 31, 2006

I have taken the PBDS twice & it sucks. The first time I was totally unprepared. The 2nd time I studied my butt off & still had "some weaknesses". You must watch the 2-3min. video clip of a pt. coughing, sweating, etc. & look at labs, VS, etc & then come up with a "medical diagnosis". Not a nursing diagnosis. Like CHF, ARF, etc. Then in one box to left you type everything you would do for the pt. & on the right you type in the rational. Ex. why VS (what you are looking for). On one pt. I forgot to put O2 for hypovolemia. My thing is that there is no way in hell you can remember every single thing you would do for every pt. in the few minutes you have to test. During the test you remember things to add (neuro checks, peripheral pulses, etc) but it is too late to go back. I am feeling like I am at the end of my rope because I do fine on the floor. This is just for a part-time position & I am jumping through hoops to be a nurse when I thought there was a nursing shortage!!! I was on 4weeks orientation & now I have to be on 2 more weeks because of that stupid test. I am ready to tell them to shove it but I really need the extra cash & the hospital is 5 min. from my house. All that this PBDS is going to do is discourage nurses & discourage people from wanting to go to nursing school. Who wants to do all this crap for around $50K a year when you can have a gravy desk job? Signed: extremely disgruntled nurse!

I was really nervous about it, (as a long time nurse I didn't want to humiliate myself). I did well on it but I thought it was ridiculous and very insulting to have to take it in the first place. I think they should make the nurses they already have take it also, not just the new hires. I wonder how some of them would do on it.

shelll4329 · Feb 5, 2007

I think PBDS is unfair. I took it and have to retake it. I do not know how to prepare for this test. I am a new nurse and did well in my coursework in school, but was not prepared for this. Any thoughts?

Thanks