Pre-Employment Testing

kabfighter · Jun 30, 2012

I always assumed that "pre-employment testing" was (as some of us affectionately call it in the military) a "whizz quiz".

The only way to study is lay off the drugs for a few weeks :smokin:

LeavingTeaching4RN · Jul 1, 2012

Not quite. I mean the competency exams.

Goobstress · Jul 11, 2012

Those tests are pretty easy and standard. Usually multiple choice and some dose calculations. Don't sweat it. You will do just fine.

nautical nurse · Oct 3, 2012

I'm headed back into travel nursing and have the same question. Before my last assignment, I took no less than 32 tests to start with one particular agency; they ranged from med-surg to maths to the required JCAHO required fire-safety and OSHA tests. Needless to say there was plenty of freaking out going on about having to take Med/Surg exams after ten years in cardiothoracics. I hadn't thought about gallbladders in years! I've done a good bit of studying by simply "googling" PDDS study guides and such. My question is, does anyone know if these exams are required for every single travel assignment? i know the JCAHO ones are, but the rest as well? I'd think the exam results would be on file with the company that I just traveled with not three months ago?

adam_racine · May 15, 2014

I took a pre-emploment test and I don't know how I did. Here were a couple questions. What do you think the right answers were?

1) John smith always asks for his ativan which is ordered for 1mg po pen every 6 hours what does the nurse do?

a)give him the med and notify the psych nurse if he continues to request the ativan around the clock

b)tell the resident you don't see any signs of anxiety and hold the medication

2) John smith takes morphine pen. She has colon cancer and a history of substance abuse. She asks for this med all the time and says she is in pain even though you just gave her medication what do you do?

a) administer this med as ordered and notify the director of nursing and doctor for correct pain management . The resident needs more medication

b)Give her as little as possible since she has a history of substance abuse

c) she is lying she just says she is in pain because she wants more medication.

I think number one was b and two was a

do you guys think I was right?

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · May 15, 2014

I took a pre-emploment test and I don't know how I did. Here were a couple questions. What do you think the right answers were?
1) John smith always asks for his ativan which is ordered for 1mg po pen every 6 hours what does the nurse do?
a)give him the med and notify the psych nurse if he continues to request the ativan around the clock
b)tell the resident you don't see any signs of anxiety and hold the medication
2) John smith takes morphine pen. She has colon cancer and a history of substance abuse. She asks for this med all the time and says she is in pain even though you just gave her medication what do you do?
a) administer this med as ordered and notify the director of nursing and doctor for correct pain management . The resident needs more medication
b)Give her as little as possible since she has a history of substance abuse
c) she is lying she just says she is in pain because she wants more medication.
I think number one was b and two was a
do you guys think I was right?

IMO, you scored a 50%.

1: If the patient has the Ativan ordered, it's been 6 hours since their last dose and isn't heavily sedated (e.g., RASS 0 or higher), give it to them. It is not your place to decide what meds they can and can't have--that is up to the doctor. However notify the MD if the patient continually requests Ativan--they may decide to make it scheduled instead of PRN, they may switch him to a new medication, they may decide he's a seeker and discontinue it, etc. That's up to the doctor.

Also, reread the question: nowhere does it say that the patient isn't anxious. In fact, that question says precious little about the patient's condition or why he's getting the Ativan in the first place.

2. Pain is whatever the patient says it is. And again, it's not up to you to decide what meds the patient can and can't have, even if they have a known CD history--that is the doctor's call. If you can administer it, administer it and notify the MD that the patient has been requesting it.

adam_racine · May 15, 2014

Darn! That's true, I guess I just got thrown off about notifying the psych nurse? I mean I am the nurse!! Lol Thanks!!

I just remembered one more question it had to do with calling off:

It's Monday and you want to be off Friday but you picked up that shift what do you do?

A)Call off

B)call the Director of nursing and tell her right away

C)Ask the nurses if they will cover this shift, and tell the Director of nursing on Wednesday.

I picked C.

Seems easy enough but I think I read way into the question.

delphine22 · May 16, 2014

Ummm no, the answer is B. Well, technically it's "find someone to replace you," not "ask the nurses to cover for you." These questions are weird.

For the OP, I had to take a separate telemetry test for a nationwide agency, rhythm recognition etc., but no basic med-surg test. I had some required CEUs I had to complete but no crazy JCHAO list. I guess it varies by agency but I'd definitely expect a rhythms test.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · May 16, 2014

Darn! That's true, I guess I just got thrown off about notifying the psych nurse? I mean I am the nurse!! Lol Thanks!!
I just remembered one more question it had to do with calling off:
It's Monday and you want to be off Friday but you picked up that shift what do you do?
A)Call off
B)call the Director of nursing and tell her right away
C)Ask the nurses if they will cover this shift, and tell the Director of nursing on Wednesday.
I picked C.
Seems easy enough but I think I read way into the question.

The best answer is B. You need to tell the DON/Staffing right away so they can find coverage for you.

If you call out just because you want the day off, you're not going to make friends with staffing who has to try to replace you, as well as with your coworkers who will have to pick up your slack if they don't replace you.

C is also not the best answer...though to be honest, if you can find another nurse to cover your shift and tell staffing about it right away (as in, don't wait until Wednesday), staffing may just appreciate you finding a replacement for yourself. But it is not how things should be done.

Although the TRUE correct answer isn't listed and that is: act in accordance with the facility/agency's policy and procedures regarding scheduling and call-offs. That trumps anything else we can say here.