Q about PSB RN test..

PghRN30 · Jan 22, 2011

I found it very easy....though I know there are 2 versions and I'm not sure which ours was.

There were 5 sections, Academic Aptitude, Spelling, Reading comprehension, Natural Science, Vocational Adjustment.

Academic Aptitude is 3 types of questions, verbal, non verbal, and math. Verbal was they give you 5 words, and 4 mean almost the same thing, and the 5th means the opposite, you have to pick which means the opposite. Non verbal is shapes comparisons....this is to this as this is to this......like triangle inside a square is to square inside a triangle as circle inside a square is to----then give you 4 or 5 to select from. Math was all very basic math.

Spelling they give you 3 differnt spellings for words, you pick which is right.....it will be like one has an i instead of an e and one has double ls.

Reading comprehension is a few readings from research write ups, then answering questions. The one reading that I found most difficult is because it was from around the turn of the century, discussing science, that we would now know to be inaccurate, and the lanuage is different then am accustomed to.....though would say that I had been on a kick or reading a lot of Sherlock Holmes at the time maybe helped because it helped me adapt to the language of it. With your background it would probably be easy

Natural Science, is mostly health/bio/anatomy type things. I was only in the middle of A&P 1 so its not like you have to have a lot of that. Chem, was very basic.....Probably the chem you would learn in a basic bio class is all you need. Physics was on there, but not much to be conserned about. A couple physical physics, and a couple electrical physics...not enough to really hurt you if you dont know it. Also a couple historical science questions.....maybe 2 or 3.

Vocational adjustment, is all "i agree" or "i disagree" statements about your attitude toward a job in general, and nursing. I don't know what to give as an example without giving something I know was actually on there, but if you have the right additude toward working a professional job, and about being a nurse it shouldnt be an issue.

javapearl · Feb 6, 2011

I just took the test today... and think I did really well on it. The person listed above me that explained the test, did an excellent job in doing so. I studied for a few days off and on, nothing major. I found that there was so many possible things to study for, that how could I even remember it all... when there are millions of possible questions to choose from. I did highlight my memory for changing degree C to degrees F...and the metric system... and a list of commonly misspelled words. The test, I believe is general knowledge and common sense problem solving... which is nothing any of could possibly study for. The math was easy if you know ratios, and fractions. We did not have to do the spelling portion. The reading comprehension was the most difficult for me. The excerts were difficult to read, and the questions had answers that were vague and not in the context in the way they were phrased. It is hard to explain... the terminology and meaning of the words were not exactly as they were in the text, and trying to figure out the answer while reading between the lines was a nightmare! Anyways, just wanted to share my version, of my experience. I went into the test confident, and calm. I hope it is a reflection of good things to come!? By the way, there were about 60 students in my class, and there was a class before mine, with the same amount. That is a lot of test takers for one day. There were probably 6 others test dates prior to the one I took. I was happy with how well I felt I did, until I thought.... I did good... how many other people did superior? Ack. Isn't the not knowing and the worry of not being good enough...and the competitveness all making anyone else crazy!? :eek:

2brnsomeday · Mar 17, 2011

Hi! I took the PSB and agree on all of your comments. Passed with high scores for all sections BUT the Vocational! How does one fail this? Is is that I am too honest and think positive? It's like the TV show "what would you do?". I am very frustrated! :banghead:

I hope all of you have the best of luck and wishes in the UPMC Schools of Nursing. :cheers: