Got a call from a LTC facility... sched to take pharm/med math exam. Need advice

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Hey guys,

After looking for an RN job for many months with no calls or interviews, I received a call out of the blue last week from a LTC facility from an HR person. When I called her back, she told me that they were having a pharmacology/med math exam on June 14 and that if I passed I would be eligible for an interview. I asked her if there were certain meds I should focus on and she told me that she wasn't allowed to tell me which ones :down: All she told me was that there were 50 questions in multiple choice format and the exam was on paper.

I also asked how good my chances were for getting an interview if I passed the exam and she said that she didn't know. I asked her how long it would take to get a call for an interview if I pass and she told me I would have to ask the Asst. Dir. of Nursing or the Asst. Dir. of HR so I'll know who to ask when the time comes.

So now, I have a couple of questions for you guys; is it normal to take the pharm exam before even securing an interview? I usually hear that people get hired first and then are asked to take the exam. Is it different for LTC or does this usually happen?

And my most important question, for you nurses who have taken the pharm exam in a LTC facility, were the pharm questions usually based on a geriatric population, like the meds most commonly used in nursing homes or were they generalized pharm questions which could cover any broad spectrum (like med-surg, oncology, etc.) Right now I'm focusing on studying meds more related to the geriatric population but it would help to know for sure :confused:

TIA

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I've never taken a med test for LTC. Not a bad idea tho. I would think it would be right before the interview or during the interview. Most LTCs are so hard up to find staff.

As far as meds..you can look thru some of the threads to find some topics.

Laxatives, stool softners, blood thinners, lasix and dig, MVI, iron, vit C and Zinc, namenda, aricept, remeron, pain meds (percocet, vicodin, oxycodone, oxycontin, dilaudid) dilantin, phenobarb, ativan ambien....those are some of our most common ones. oops...diabetis meds too.

DX CVA, CHF, COPD, CAD, HTN, Diabetis, arthritis, osteoporosis, UTIs, Decubitus, Demetias. Those are a few of the ones of the top of my head.

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Focus on meds with hold parameters and the possibility of safety issues - without specific orders as a prudent nurse what meds would you hold for what pulse or bp? Digoxin, the olols (pressors), prils. Know Lasix (furosemide) and HCTZ. Anything that decreases reps - narcs. Coumadin - what tests? Signs of dig toxicity. Levels for depakote and dilantin. Synthroid's a biggie - levels.

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I've never taken a med test for LTC. Not a bad idea tho. I would think it would be right before the interview or during the interview. Most LTCs are so hard up to find staff.

As far as meds..you can look thru some of the threads to find some topics.

Laxatives, stool softners, blood thinners, lasix and dig, MVI, iron, vit C and Zinc, namenda, aricept, remeron, pain meds (percocet, vicodin, oxycodone, oxycontin, dilaudid) dilantin, phenobarb, ativan ambien....those are some of our most common ones. oops...diabetis meds too.

DX CVA, CHF, COPD, CAD, HTN, Diabetis, arthritis, osteoporosis, UTIs, Decubitus, Demetias. Those are a few of the ones of the top of my head.

Thanks for the tips :)

Do you work in LTC? And if you do, are you saying they didn't make you take a pharm exam to work there?

"Most LTCs are so hard up to find staff."

Oh boy... I hope that's a good thing. If not that might mean there's a high turnover rate... I hope if I work there they are well-staffed. I've heard too many horror stories of one nurse having over 20 patients :eek:

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Thanks for the tips :)

Do you work in LTC? And if you do, are you saying they didn't make you take a pharm exam to work there?

"Most LTCs are so hard up to find staff."

Oh boy... I hope that's a good thing. If not that might mean there's a high turnover rate... I hope if I work there they are well-staffed. I've heard too many horror stories of one nurse having over 20 patients :eek:

I wish I had over 20 patients. I work LTC on the evening shift and have 32 if a full census.

I know while in LPN school we were told that "they" (the teachers who were also working RN's) were told that they had been informed by many new grads that they were given med/math tests prior to interviews. I didn't have to take one prior to my interview and subsequent hiring.

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Focus on meds with hold parameters and the possibility of safety issues - without specific orders as a prudent nurse what meds would you hold for what pulse or bp? Digoxin, the olols (pressors), prils. Know Lasix (furosemide) and HCTZ. Anything that decreases reps - narcs. Coumadin - what tests? Signs of dig toxicity. Levels for depakote and dilantin. Synthroid's a biggie - levels.

Thanks for the advice, it turns out, alot of the things you mentioned were the first things I studied :D

I see... so I should definitely know the safetly levels of these meds inside and out. Great to know :)

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I wish I had over 20 patients. I work LTC on the evening shift and have 32 if a full census.

I know while in LPN school we were told that "they" (the teachers who were also working RN's) were told that they had been informed by many new grads that they were given med/math tests prior to interviews. I didn't have to take one prior to my interview and subsequent hiring.

Hmm... maybe this is a new thing they are trying to phase in...

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Hmm... maybe this is a new thing they are trying to phase in...

I work noc shift as an NAC at an assisted/skilled nursing place and on noc shift, it's one RN to like 60 pts. This includes Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living (mostly independent). 20 sounds good to me (and probably to our night nurses, too!)

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

I've worked in many facilities. EVERY facility has given a med test after hire. I always allow an open book test. The older nurses get mad but it should be like real life...if you have a question on the floor, you look it up in the book or you call the pharmacy.

Pay attention to doses. Good luck and let us know what happens.

PS. I have more applicants than I can hire so I am VERY picky when I hire a nurse.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med- Surg.

I had to take a med test after I was hired during orientation. COPD drugs, Digoxin, BP meds, well basically anything with parameters. Oh and what order you would give multiple asthma inhalers come to mind. I also have 32 residents for myself & 3 CNA's on evening shift. It's very busy but you'll learn a lot!:)

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Good luck, I hope you get it. =)

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I work noc shift as an NAC at an assisted/skilled nursing place and on noc shift, it's one RN to like 60 pts. This includes Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living (mostly independent). 20 sounds good to me (and probably to our night nurses, too!)

Woah, nohika, you are scaring me :eek: And I see that you just started too... how are you holding up?

I've worked in many facilities. EVERY facility has given a med test after hire. I always allow an open book test. The older nurses get mad but it should be like real life...if you have a question on the floor, you look it up in the book or you call the pharmacy.

Pay attention to doses. Good luck and let us know what happens.

PS. I have more applicants than I can hire so I am VERY picky when I hire a nurse.

Thanks for the advice CapeCodMermaid :) I will definitely keep you guys posted.

I had to take a med test after I was hired during orientation. COPD drugs, Digoxin, BP meds, well basically anything with parameters. Oh and what order you would give multiple asthma inhalers come to mind. I also have 32 residents for myself & 3 CNA's on evening shift. It's very busy but you'll learn a lot!:)

Great to know, thanks cakegirl :yeah: 32 residents... I'm sure I will learn alot but 32 is so overwhelming...

Good luck, I hope you get it. =)

Aww, thanks so much smileymimi :) I hope so too

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