Very frustrated after taking pbsd!!

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in L&D, PP, antepartum and NBN.

Hello! I began a new job last week and they required me to take a PBSD test. I've been an RN for 17 years and I've NEVER heard of this test before. They didn't mention it to me when hired either. I've been a newborn nursery nurse for the last 7-8 years only stepping into the NICU to help out when needed. I was made to take a NICU test. I did ok on things like sepsis, hyperbilirumenemia, RDS and apnea and bradycardia, but the other NICU stuff was WAY over my head. There were babies on vents, one with a chest tube, they threw in a 23 weeker!! Seriously?? Like they would let me TOUCH a 23 weeker!! I was told I didn't pass and would have to retake after my orientation. I explained to them before I took the test that I was NOT a NICU nurse and they said they would take that into consideration. Well, they didn't! I seriously doubt my orientation will cover vents, chest tubes and 23 weekers as this hospital doesn't have a level 3 NICU!! How am I expected to know this stuff if I've never worked the area and they aren't going to teach it to me?? Not to mention when I voiced my concerns the person I spoke to was really rude. He snapped my paper out of my hand and shouted "DUELY NOTED!! I WILL NOTIFY YOUR MANAGER OF YOUR CONCERNS. HAVE A GOOD REST OF THE DAY!"

I've never been so irritated at a hospital orientation in all my life!:mad::mad::mad: Why can't they just wait and see how I perform on the floor before they decide if I'm competent or not?:confused::confused::confused:

I REALLY am not a fan of this PBSD test. Does anyone know if there is a newborn test? I'd be more than happy to take one for my area of specialty!!

Thanks!

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Is there material that you can study? I would ask them if there is anything that you can study to pass the test. I can understand your frustration. However, they are requiring it, you still have to retake it so I would be looking for methods/information to help pass it the second time. Then you can put it behind you and be done. If nothing else, study up on the care of a 23 weeker, vents and chest tubes since you know that is where your weaknesses are. Good luck.

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

You can google and get study guides for just about anything. I agree with you that it was unfair of them not to let you know about the testing but the testing is the new thing with employers. I've been reading some pretty scary stuff when it comes to these new employment test.

Thank the stars you didn't have to take personality testing like so many places are now doing. But seriously, if you want to keep the job, look online and get appropriate study material and take the test again or don't ... that's up to you.

BTW; it's not up the the employer to supply you with study guides and what not. As RNs we should be able to research and get what we need without having someone hold our hand. That doesn't mean you can't ask what would be an appropriate study guide if they have suggestions. Good luck to you.

Google PBSD and you will see that it encompasses all types of nursing. Also do a search on this site using PBSD; there are a few nurses who have done this as well and have information.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

Do you really, really want to work with these people?

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Specializes in L&D, PP, antepartum and NBN.

Hi! I appreciate your reply but if you've never taken the test then u don't understand the level of difficulty. They give u a scenario, play a video of the scenario for about 20-30 secs then in free text you have to type out a DIGNOSIS!! Yes! I have to give a diagnosis! Not a nsg dx but what I think the dr would dx the infant with and then prioritize what I would do and anticipate the dr to order, like blood work, X-ray, CT scan, etc or would I start an IV, O2, run an EKG, place pulse ox? Which of these would be stat? Also anticipate what would happen if blood work came back a certain way? Would the dr start abx? Or something else? Then u have to give your rationale for what u did. If u don't know the stuff, I just don't think u can learn it in a text book! That's not going to keep me from trying to read up and learn all I can about everything I mentioned. It'll only make me smarter. I'm just frustrated bc I'd rather be tested on something I have a knowledge base of. What they did to me is like giving an ICU test to a med surg nurse. I guess. Would that nurse know how to take care of vents or cranial pressure monitors? I wouldn't guess. Same thing.

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Specializes in L&D, PP, antepartum and NBN.

I think you've misunderstood where my frustration comes from. I'm not upset about the test. It's that I had to take one that is outside the scope of my specialty. I'm more than happy to take a test on the care of the newborn and anything we do care for in the newborn nursery. But why expect me to know things that are not in my area of specialty!? That's where the frustration comes from!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Acute Rehab.

I feel your pain:redbeathe

I had to take this test when I first got hired in Texas also. All but one RN in the class of 32 failed. But before we re-took the test, there were three classes that we had to go to.

The instructor pretty much went over all the details, with the correct answers. There were nurses in that class for everything from Med/Surg to all the specialties. We got printouts of the cases relating to our specialty. Even with all that, the re-test, which gives you the same scenarios, was still stressful, due to its length and the time allotted. I didn't finished all the modules, but miraculously, I passed. Worst type of test EVER!!!!

Plus, they are asking us to diagnose, which not in our scope of practice, right???

Is your hospital going to give you any remediation?

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Specializes in ICU/CCU, PICU.

Maybe they’re evaluating where you are prior to starting orientation? During the initial weeks when I began my position in the PICU I took a similar test (as well as other nurses). All of us failed terribly but it allowed our preceptors to determine which areas we needed extra training on. There wasn’t two different tests- ones with experience and other without because each test would identify the same areas.

I don’t feel like questions regarding “diagnosing” are inappropriate. Specialty certifications are the same way, even ACLS is like that. You need to deduce what the potential diagnosis is and anticipate which treatment.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

Why would you want to work for such a hospital? I have always refused to take PBDS and hopefull alwasy will. I have seen too many good nurses get fired for failing.

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Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, PACU,SICU.

I took PBDS, the educator reviewed things I missed, and I studied those on my own, retook the think and passed. I would study things I missed if I were you.

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Specializes in Home Health.

What is your specialty?

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