mojofla

DevelopmentRN...I have no idea why you would post that comment.The nurses here are looking for advice on how to better deal with and pass the PBDS. I see you have posted prior that you have background in developing programs for new grads...so maybe instead you can post some worthwhile advice instead of posting this same comment on a couple of threads. Nobody is running or hiding here...

LearningRN... I too have had plantar fasciitis. I saw a podiatrist. He taped me...no luck. Had several cortisone injections by him...no luck. Made me ortho shoe inserts(the hard kind)...no luck. My nurse co worker finally asked me why the heck I didn't go to an ortho doc as he had and he no longer suffered from this. The ortho doc gave me another cortisone injection. The difference was this shot felt like the devil himself was sticking me with his fork. I guess he went deep enough because no problems since. The doc also sent me to therapy to change my walking habits. I have had no problems since. In therapy they did use ice packs(you can use frozen peas) and followed exercises. I have a brochure from the ortho doc I will look for The ortho doc did not like the hard inserts. Said to go to store for runners or one of those goodfeet type stores and pick up shoe inserts. They work just as well and are cheaper.I also make sure I buy good shoes. I have mephistos,danskos(all from ebay at great savings) and if I have to wear dress shoe I stick with kitten heels. Hope your feet feel better

gentle... There are plenty of threads here on PBDS. Just go under search and type in PBDS. It will explain the test and really has nothing to do with doing your job well.All the questions you asked are answered on threads for PBDS ..then you will get an idea of the test and possible consequences. As you can see under ny name my areas of nursing. It was med/surg floor and the test was designed as an assessment/learning tool but some hospitals use it to terminate you. The hospital where I was doesnt consider it as a termination..just that you are not hirable as a travel nurse. They did state I was qualified to work a a staff nurse or a 6 month seasonal contract working 3- 12hr shifts one week and 4-12hr shifts the next. However I am moving back to my old hospital and will have my pay/benefits reinstated.(I actully made more as a staff RN where I was with benefits and vacation) I moved here for a year due to my fiance job relocation but we have decided to now go back home. I think it was just wrong to treat people like this. I am a good nurse and very qualified. My former co-workers rolled over laughing when I told them of this test and that it basically said I had no critical thinking skills. I basically want to make people aware of the test and possible consequences. Thank goodness I was not financially affected by loss of this contract but a lot of us do live paycheck to paycheck, have bills,kids and I hate to see anyone else pack up move and have to repack and leave. As I understand you will not get travel reimbursed by most companies. The hospital did pay for orientation but I know of 1 persn who lost her paycheck to the travel company because she had to spend a few extra days in their housing after she was sent packing. It was her first travel experience and a very unpleasant experience for her. At the hospital where I did the PBDS I did work one 12 hr shift because no one notified me that my contract was null & void . The nurse manager never even said anything to me. This incompetent old nurse however was the only one who could put an NG in a pt for them. The nurse orientating me also had a trach pt...she didn't know trach care. I had to tell her what the trach "inserts "were and to order up a box of the inserts( shileys). PICC/CVC dressings didnt look like they were changed ..nothing was dated as to when things were done last. Neither she nor the clinical coordinator took the test and stated they would never pass it. Please do look up the threads as you will see/hear different experiences/stories from both travel nurses and staff nurses. I went to a bookstore and saw a small pocked sized book for medsurg by Davis co. and after reading the threads and links found the 10 or 11 medical diagnosis you must make on the test and it gave you the steps you should take,things to do for that diagnosis. I will pick that book up . GOOD LUCK and hope this helps.

Thank you Caroladybelle...I agree and I did address it with my company. I also called up the CNO/VP and informed her that her hospital does not include in their literature to the travel nurse any warning or info that such a test is being administered and the consequences.She was surprised and stated it would be addressed. I voiced that it was unfair for travel nurses to leave jobs,travel and be sent packing back home. I also told her that it was travel company responsibility but the hospital should also include it in their info. They do include info about their housing that is used and fees/rules for the housing. It also includes orientation info, a med test will be administered and nothing about PBDS. However if you fail the test they are more than happy to hire you on staff as a seasonal contract nurse...go figure!!! Since then I have heard of a family that arrived only to be sent packing and did read another recent post here about another traveler sent packing. I think it would help others if they knew in advance about whether PBDS is being required and where. It would help protect against all those unscrupulous travel companies who choose not to inform the travel nurse. Some of these travel nurses were first time and were devastated to be sent packing. THANKS

Just curious as to how many travel nurses have taken PBDS exam? Did you pass or fail?...and if you failed did your assignment get terminated? Where did you take this test...hospital/city/state? I wrote at NCH in Naples,Fl did not pass. Lost my contract . Was not aware of this prior to arriving. Have heard from several people and know of a family that just relocated here with a travel contract who then had to leave because the RN didn't pass the PBDS exam. Was told by one staff nurse they sent home 30 travel nurses last year who failed the test.

bethinct..if going to naples look up www.nchmd.org. It is the website for naples community hosp and under careers they post the salary offered. Florida doesnt pay well RN's or LPN. Naples does have a seasonal program for nurses.. pay is much better and they have their own housing they can provide. Not sure if they hire LPN's under seasonal program . Also a new hospital being built here Collier regional owned by HCM . Also physicians Regional Medical Center(formerly cleveland clinic) and now owned by HCM also.

maor...just do google search for IV certification new jersey or type in zip and the names of some companies should show up. Also ask your hosp education dept. good luck

I did mine through one of those places that does CPR and education CEU'S. Check with your education dept or call your outpatient IV therapy dept and ask them. I have been a nurse 20 years and when moved here had no IV skills. I asked the advice of my nurse friends and had them give me tips. I am very proficient now and really honed the skill working pre-op room. We had to start 18g on everyone and we have a lot of elderly here . I wanted the certification as I thought it would be beneficial. The course wasn't beneficial to me. The instructor bungled by misidentifying a couple of lines. Her lines were older models and she wasn't really sure of a couple of lines. We did a "live "stick on a mannequin arm. I felt so bad for 2 lpn's doing the class. She gave them a hard time during the procedure and wasnt really giving direct supervision. 1 poor girl ended up with the red food coloring squirting all over her blouse.When i left the 2 lpn's were still there. I got 30 ceu's and a certificate for what it is worth on paper. It wasnt that beneficial. I suggest pairing up with someone who is proficient or if your hosp has IV team going with them for a few hours. Or call outpatient IV therapy and ask if you can come over and watch. Lastly I hate to say this ...sometimes the newer nurses do their first insertions on patients that are kinda older...a little out of it....sorry. Once you know the technique and learn tips from the experienced nurses its practice ,practice and more practice. You will get it. good luck

http://www.clinicalone.com/c1/careercenter_clienttesting.asp Some helpful info here

Thread titled PERFORMANCE BASED DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM has lots of info...it is lengthy but worth reading through. Post 58 tell you info on diagnosis for medsurg. Post 76 on page 8 has a link with the medsurg diagnosis listed. I tried to post it here but can't. If you go there the link works.Also someone said Dr.DelBueno wrote an article on the PBDS(hints included in article) in Nursing Perspective magazine put out by the NLN sept/oct issue 2005. I found some info on the article but cannot get a copy. The website said some hosp libraries or schools of nursing might have it in their online subscriptions. Does anyone hava a copy...if so I would appreciate it. The hosp library here doesnt have it. Thanks

gonzo1 type PBDS in search. There are a couple of threads with links you can go to. good luck

cat 123 ....I over the past 1-2 years have precepted 2RN's who were in the re-entry program at our hospital. One was a RN who had been out of nursing raising her children for past 7-8 years. The other was a corrections RN who wanted to return to the hospital. Many hospitals are now offering nurse re-entry programs to get those nurses back who have left the hospital setting(no fee charged. Maybe have to work for hospital set time). Both nurses were precepted full time by me for 3 months. Both were great nurses...very sharp but were shocked at the major changes and high work load. Both went to night shift eventually because of the demands. One came back to 1 day/week. the other stayed on nights but cut back to 2 nights/week and presently took some per diem in a surgicenter. Maybe you can look for a program like that. Some hospitals are improving their ratios now. One of them took the community college refresher course but stated it didn't really make a difference. Another RN I worked with took college refresher course also said not much help. GOOD LUCK

Just failed PBDS and lost my travel job. Had never heard of this test before nor did any of my former coworkers.So I tried doing some research and very hard to find info but I did find one book that might help. Apparantly critical thinking is the rage or becoming the rage for testing nurses. The book will be released September 2006 and is by the F.A Davis co. priced at $31.95. The title is Maybe this can help prepare any future PBDS test takers. I did a google search on the title and it will bring up the website for the book. Please keep us informed if anyone buys this book and how you rate it....thanks

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