Any Travel Nurse that has traveled to an assignment across the country, moved into their apartment, and then shown up at work the first day to find out that they were going to have to take the PBDS test for the first time is likely to have had a bit of anxiety over it.  While full time staff Nurses are given the PBDS to determine what kind of orientation is appropriate for them, not so for the Travel Nurse.  In most cases it's a "fail, and go home on your own dime" situation.  Literally.

The test itself isn't a pen and paper sit down test, where you answer multiple choice questions about.  It is presented via computer with video vignettes or descriptions of situations that require you to then narate an appropriate response to.  It's stuff you know, but it's presented in a way that can be misleading if you don't know what to expect. 

Many Travel Nurses refuse to take assignments that require this test, but I don't advocate that approach.  It's a test that measures your clinical knowledge and decision making, and you can pass it if you have the right mindset.

I'll give you some of my personal advice on taking the PBDS, and I'll also point you in the direction of more information on the subject.  My personal experience with the test was the Critical Care form of the exam, at the time they didn't have an ER specific one at the facility where I tested :

#1  The test is time limited, so tying speed helps. 

#2  The test is graded by looking for keywords in your answers.  For instance, if you get a scenerio that is about a patient having chest pain, the test wants to see words like EKG, IV, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Morphine, lab tests (be specific - say cpk, troponin, myoglobin, cbc, cmp, bnp - not just "lab work").

#3  Don't just say "I'd call the Doctor".  They want to know that you know what to do FIRST, before you call the doctor.  Standards of care allow you as a nurse to get an ekg, start an IV, put oxygen on, etc.  Do those things, type them all out.  Include in your narrative that you would inform the doctor immediately as a PART of your care, but remember that your patient doesn't just lay there until you get an order.

#4  If they ask you what you would do if a doctor or patient is rude to you, remember that the facility wants you to take one for the team.  Your answer needs to include the fact that you never argue or discuss sensitive issues in front of patients or other staff, that you are never confrontational with another staff person, and that you would at an APPROPRIATE time later try to heal any professional relationships that you can.  Just remember - carry out orders, take care of patients, and THEN privately try to discuss any interpersonal issues with other staff persons.

#5  Don't get hung up on one question.  Time is limited, so if you get stuck on something, move on.  Remember, the more correct key words you get in during the test, the better.  Type as quickly as possible and describe your actions:  "I would place the patient on oxygen, cardiac-nicp-spo2 monitors, call for a stat EKG while I establish a large bore IV for venous access and I would collect blood for cpk, troponin, myoglobin, cbc, chemistry, bnp.  I would give NTG for chest pain q5 min times 3 if the patient has no contraindications to it, and would obtain an order for morphine if the pain was rapidly controlled.  I would make certain the EKG was done and read by the physician within 5 minutes.  If the EKG indicated an STEMI then I would anticipate immediate transfer to the cath lab or administration of thrombolytics if no cath lab was available."  Just talk it out the way you would do it. 

#6  A lot of nurses who work in areas where they don't have a lot of autonomy, have trouble with this part of the test.  They are afraid to "do" anything without it being clear that they have an order for their actions.  Just remember that if you walked into a room and found whatever problem that they present to you, you wouldn't run back out the door and call the doctor, and wait for him to call back for a reply.  You would call him, but remember to type out what you'd do first! 

This is a great article about the PBDS test :  The Performance Based Development System assessment tool affects travel nurses

The Cross Country Staffing PBDS Resource :  This is an excellent resource that Cross Country Staffing has available on their site.