:imbar I am a recent casualty of PBDS. This is an insane way of getting rid of good nurses with valuable experience! Why weren't we in formed that this part of orientation was "do or die"? They said it's not supposed to be used as a means to get rid of any one, but after I failed the initial test, I became scrutinized. The nurses that were my preceptors were no help at all. I was told that if I chose to take the re-test and failed, that I would be "black-balled" as a nurse.
I used my nursing books for reference as well as my Internship notebook as tools to fill out the scenarios and was told it wasn't good enough. When I filled those out, I wrote on front and back and literally wrote a book on the darned thing.
I've had nothing but good things said about me during my whole medical career.
And now, suddenly it's implied that I'm "not up to their standards". So, I find myself in the job market again and I'm sure PBDS will raise it's ugly head. At least this time, I'm more prepared for it.
Ahhh...my employer makes all the new nurses do this in orientation. While I passed, very few didn't. At the end, it tells you what you didn't do right in very blunt terms. So, even though I passed, it made me sound like an idiot. Its sort of hard to write out everything you are going to do when you are given a square the size of a stamp to write on. Fortunately, my employer doesn't blackball you if you don't pass...just sort of a tool they use to figure out where you are, and what sort of extra training they need to provide. We did the test in one large group, and during the middle, started conversing with each other about the different scenarios and treatment options. The CNO remarked that this was appropriate because in the clinical setting, you should not be afraid to ask for other's opinions there either.
You have my deepest sympathy. I hated it...what a pain in the butt.
I have to admit I did not like PBDS, I did ok on it...But had issues with it anyhow...It is however a good assessment tool to use to gauge where a nurse is and what their weaknesses are...We used it at the last hospital I worked at in San Antonio, we used it to help guide our orientation process...The only ones that it really affected were those hired into Float Pool or PRN positions, if they were unacceptable on it twice then they were given the option of full time employment in order to have orientation time and develop an action plan to help them or they were let go...You know the 90 day rule, if you are not working out on the unit your hired too, then the hospital can let you go....Anyhow, it is good assessment tool, it just has some kinks in it and plus a one poster stated you do not have much room to write in plus we only gave our nurses 7 minutes for each clinical video...If they had to take it a second time, then they were given as long as they needed within reason....
Thanks JWRN and all the others who have responded to my complaint. Glad I'm not the only one out there in the dark about this. Since I posted this, I've had 3 interviews and have another one scheduled tomorrow. I'm going to keep my chin up the best I can and beat them at this one way or another.
I've since discovered that some hospitals are very rigid about this and others aren't. I guess there are still some places out there that believe in supporting their nurses instead of putting them in front of a "grand jury" to decide if they get parole or get gassed.
Keep up all the good work you guys do!
I have to admit I did not like PBDS, I did ok on it...But had issues with it anyhow...It is however a good assessment tool to use to gauge where a nurse is and what their weaknesses are...We used it at the last hospital I worked at in San Antonio, we used it to help guide our orientation process...The only ones that it really affected were those hired into Float Pool or PRN positions, if they were unacceptable on it twice then they were given the option of full time employment in order to have orientation time and develop an action plan to help them or they were let go...You know the 90 day rule, if you are not working out on the unit your hired too, then the hospital can let you go....Anyhow, it is good assessment tool, it just has some kinks in it and plus a one poster stated you do not have much room to write in plus we only gave our nurses 7 minutes for each clinical video...If they had to take it a second time, then they were given as long as they needed within reason....
i am another 20yr veteran in nursing who has been shot down by PBDS. i have been a travel nurse for 5yrs in ER and ICU and have never run across this before. now i have and have failed it. i'm not sure how a nurse is supposed to be alone and dx the 10-20secs senarios w/ ever being able to brainstorm w/ another nurse. this type of testing is not the way the real world works. even doctors get advice from other docs. when needed. well thanks for listening, or rather reading my message. well i guess i just have to move onto another contract because this hospital does pass/fail.
:imbar I am a recent casualty of PBDS. This is an insane way of getting rid of good nurses with valuable experience! Why weren't we in formed that this part of orientation was "do or die"? They said it's not supposed to be used as a means to get rid of any one, but after I failed the initial test, I became scrutinized. The nurses that were my preceptors were no help at all. I was told that if I chose to take the re-test and failed, that I would be "black-balled" as a nurse.
I used my nursing books for reference as well as my Internship notebook as tools to fill out the scenarios and was told it wasn't good enough. When I filled those out, I wrote on front and back and literally wrote a book on the darned thing.
I hate the studpid test... why they give this test to new grads like us?
They said "don't take it seriously... you just need to be reassessed again if you didn't do well"
Now you make me scare.. What exactly do you mean by "black-balled" as a nurse? Will they let us out of the job if we fail the second time?
I have spent the last hour or so reading through all of the old posts regarding this type of testing. It terrifies me that I could spend hours of prep and traveling to a totally new state just to be told that I no longer have a job???
I am curious.......for those of you who travel.....what does your agency say if you fail? Will they continue to get you contracts? Will you still be re-imbursed for traveling expenses if you fail? Will they leave you out in the cold...stranded in an unfamiliar area? Can you ask ahead of time if your prospective place of employment uses this test?
I was not told in advance that one of my facilities used this, but did okay on it. They tend to spring it on you.
What kills me is I did the OSHA booklet, the test and then was put in for a 2 hour inservice on a PCA pump with new grads. And that was my class orientation. No checking me off on EKGs, pumps, venipuncture, etc. How useless.
I agree. During my orientation recently, they had us (new grads) as well as traveler's doing the PBDS. We found it very hard, and apparently our recruiters had failed to explain the importance of the traveler's passing. As new grads, they kind of expected us to fail.
The scenario's were incredibly vague. It shows you a pt holding the abdomen, might show a set of vitals or two, and what type of surgery they just had done. Now, what's wrong (they want you to give a medical dx), what meds do you give, what radiology stuff will they have, what's the urgency...
You then get scored on one of the exceeds expectations, meets, does not meet type fo scales.
I consider myself lucky. I managed to meet expectations with a few expections that were brought to my attention, but won't need to re-take it.
Yeah, I took the beast. The test was not the problem. The people who administered it did not make a big deal about it, said it was just an assessment tool. What I did not know at the time was that everyone would make such a big deal about the results. The results were turned over to our inservice education people and our managers. It was managment and inservice education people that had a way of making the people who did not do well on it feel like crap. What I would like to see is a test that test the people skills of managers and inservice people. The sound of them all tanking would be like an earthquake. Would you believe my manager anounced the results at a unit meeting. I could feel myself squirming in my seat. One GN failed and I passed with some provisions. I know darn well that she should not have done it that way and that it was somesort of violation of confidentiality. The other managers must have done the same thing because I heard the results nurses on other units got being discussed on my unit. The inservice educator was just as bad she was very derogatory and insulting when she discussed it with me. Like I said it was not the test it was the people who handled the results that stuck in my throat.
however they did not pay me for the 2 days in orientation. the hospital refused to pay. now i ask if the pbds is a part of orientation and if it is i do not go there. only 52 hospitals nation wide use this test. i am still traveling and will cont. to do so until i can't. you just need to ask the nurse manager wherever you are interviewing if this is part of the orientation process or not. so don't let it get you down. keep traveling.
I have spent the last hour or so reading through all of the old posts regarding this type of testing. It terrifies me that I could spend hours of prep and traveling to a totally new state just to be told that I no longer have a job???
I am curious.......for those of you who travel.....what does your agency say if you fail? Will they continue to get you contracts? Will you still be re-imbursed for traveling expenses if you fail? Will they leave you out in the cold...stranded in an unfamiliar area? Can you ask ahead of time if your prospective place of employment uses this test?
I verbally agreed to a travel contract in Oregon. My recruiter briefly mentioned PBDS. She did not give details, nor did I ask, since I wasn't sure what it was! Now I'm becoming increasingly anxious about it and need more info. Are the scenarios basic med/surg or are they specialty specific? I have been a nurse 20+, the past 16 in the OR. Can anyone give insight?
:imbar I am a recent casualty of PBDS. This is an insane way of getting rid of good nurses with valuable experience! Why weren't we in formed that this part of orientation was "do or die"? They said it's not supposed to be used as a means to get rid of any one, but after I failed the initial test, I became scrutinized. The nurses that were my preceptors were no help at all. I was told that if I chose to take the re-test and failed, that I would be "black-balled" as a nurse.
I used my nursing books for reference as well as my Internship notebook as tools to fill out the scenarios and was told it wasn't good enough. When I filled those out, I wrote on front and back and literally wrote a book on the darned thing.
I've had nothing but good things said about me during my whole medical career.
And now, suddenly it's implied that I'm "not up to their standards". So, I find myself in the job market again and I'm sure PBDS will raise it's ugly head. At least this time, I'm more prepared for it.
Headhurt, ADN
202 Posts
Ahhh...my employer makes all the new nurses do this in orientation. While I passed, very few didn't. At the end, it tells you what you didn't do right in very blunt terms. So, even though I passed, it made me sound like an idiot. Its sort of hard to write out everything you are going to do when you are given a square the size of a stamp to write on. Fortunately, my employer doesn't blackball you if you don't pass...just sort of a tool they use to figure out where you are, and what sort of extra training they need to provide. We did the test in one large group, and during the middle, started conversing with each other about the different scenarios and treatment options. The CNO remarked that this was appropriate because in the clinical setting, you should not be afraid to ask for other's opinions there either.
You have my deepest sympathy. I hated it...what a pain in the butt.