There is much talk about PBDS testing in the Travel Nurse circles. Those not familiar with the testing and perhaps even some recruiters wonder what the big deal is about this testing as a condition of employment. Here is a list of some of the issues with this testing:
1) It is subjective based on the scoring person's opinion. 4 docs could answer the question 4 different ways and each be right.
2) The test requires nurses to diagnose patients. That is practicing
medicine without a license. Diagnosing is what docs get paid for, not
nurses so testing on this is irrelevant to the skills of a nurse.
3) Testing is not given until AFTER arrival in the new assignment city -
which means either the Agency or the Traveler are already hooked into a
13 housing arrangement and travel expenses. Hospitals pay no penalty
for sending a traveler home if they fail, yet the entire financial burden is on either the traveler or on the Agency.
4) While the test is easy enough, travelers don't get paid for their time to take the test and a few hours is involved to take it.
5) Nurses are all strictly licensed and are tired of proving and
re-proving that they are nurses every 13 weeks when they already hold
the hard-to-get RN license or CCRN standardized credintialing exam
certification.
6) PBDS testing was developed as a tool for hospitals when orientating their permanent staff. It was not designed as a pass/fail test. It was designed to identify weaknesses and strength so that an orientation can help develop the employee and help determine the department to work in that is best suited to their skills. Using this test to determine the qualification of Travel Nurses is considered abusing this test by the company who created it.
Have you been burned by this test in the past? All it takes is one time before a nurse loses time and money before they no longer will interview for facilities that require it.
Fortunately, I've been hearing lately that there are agencies that have severed ties with client hospitals that use PBDS testing for travelers. One such company is Total Med, Inc. They, too, realized that the testing was not good for business and/or for the traveler! Common sense prevails!
For those nurses new to the Travel Nursing industry, be sure to ASK your recruiter directly before interviewing if PBDS testing is required. Also, during your interview with the facility Nurse Manager, ask if the testing is part of employment for a traveler just to be sure. Lastly, when you do accept an assignment, be sure to have NO PBDS testing as a term of your contract. Otherwise, a facility can spring it on you upon arrival and then you are stuck with all the associated costs of you fail the test.
Bottom line, Travel Nurses should reject PBDS testing!
