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NAPA - R (Nursing Aptitude and Personality Assessment - Revised) Sample Report

Report for: Sample Reports
Completed on: Oct 28, 2024 at 10:37 AM (GMT -6)
Completed in: 01 h 15 min

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing states that the U.S. is anticipating a shortage of nurses as the health care needs of the Baby Boomer generation increase (2012). This may not come as a surprise. Nursing is one of the most difficult fields to pursue, and existing nurses are feeling the burden. While the projected growth of nursing positions is expected to be "faster than average," according to ONET, the need for nurses who can handle the emotional, psychological, social and physical demands of nursing is apparent.

Overall Score  79

Sample appears to be fairly well-suited for a job in nursing. Although he may need to work on certain skills and traits, he scored well on most of the scales. Thus, from a job fit point of view, he seems to have most of the necessary skills and traits that will allow him to succeed in this line of work. If he puts in the effort to improve upon his existing skills, he would definitely adapt well to a nursing position. In general, his personality and skills adequately match this type of occupation.
Famous nurses in history include Mary Ezra Mahoney (first African-American woman to become an RN), Clara Barton (founder of the Red Cross) and the "Queen of Nurses," Florence Nightingale.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing states that the U.S. is anticipating a shortage of nurses as the healthcare needs of the Baby Boomer generation increase (2012). This may not come as a surprise. Nursing is one of the most difficult fields to pursue, and existing nurses are feeling the burden. While the projected growth of nursing positions is expected to be "faster than average" according to ONET, the need for nurses who can handle the emotional, psychological, social and physical demands of nursing is apparent.

Nurses are required to juggle multiple roles. Aside from caring for their patients, they need to anticipate and deal with the needs of worried and frustrated family members. They need to deal with routine administrative tasks, routine medical rounds, and at the same, be on alert for unexpected changes in a patient's health. Nurses also have to cope with conflict, emergencies, death and grieving. The demands of this field are numerous, but many men and women who take on this caregiving role feel that the personal fulfillment of being able to help others far outweighs any downside.

If it is Sample's goal to pursue a career in nursing, he can use this test as a guide for areas that he can develop. Even if he didn't score as well, education, practice, and experience (and effort on his part) will provide opportunities to develop any areas where he is lacking.

Impression Management

Probability of social desirability bias

Low

The probability that this person's responses were influenced by social desirability bias is low.

20

Overall Score

Overall aptitude for nursing.

79

Nursing Value System

Encompasses a group of skills/traits that are essential to a fulfilling nursing career.

82

Altruism

A true desire to help others.

80

Empathy/Compassion

Ability to understand other people's feelings.

93

Cooperativeness

Ability to work well with others.

97

Desire to Learn

Assesses eagerness to learn new things and pick up new skills.

86

Ability to deal with structured environment

Ability to adapt to a work setting that has a structured work approach and hierarchy.

79

Honesty/Integrity

Assesses strength of character in situations where one would be tempted to be dishonest or insincere.

79

Customer Orientation

Encompasses a group of traits/skills that are required to provide the best care possible to patients.

73

Social Insight

Ability to read people and social situations, and respond appropriately.

69

Communication Skills

Ability to express oneself clearly and productively.

70

Listening Skills

Ability to be an active and attentive listener.

65

Agreeableness/Warmth

Assesses whether a person's demeanor exudes warmth and friendliness.

75

Build Rapport and Trust

Ability to create a relationship with patients built on trust and understanding.

71

Conflict Resolution Skills

Ability to resolve conflict in a healthy and professional manner.

78

Discretion

Ability to recognize situations that require discretion, and willingness to respect others' privacy.

73

Psychological Strength

Ability to deal with the trials and tribulations that are common in nursing.

77

Self-Control

Ability to monitor and regulate one's emotions and behavior.

82

Hardy Personality

Ability to stay mentally tough in the face of hardship.

73

Fortitude

Assesses whether a person has a strong stomach.

77

Adaptability

Ability to "find one's feet" when faced with sudden or unexpected situations.

73

Dealing with physicality of job

Ability to cope with nursing tasks that require strength and endurance.

73

Coping Skills

Ability to deal with stress in a healthy manner.

74

Tolerance/Patience

Ability to maintain one's composure in situations that test one's patience.

78

Conscientiousness

Encompasses skills required to be a productive and careful worker.

80

Dependability

Ability to be there for others.

85

Diligence

Ability to complete tasks carefully and effectively.

76

Organization Skills

Ability to stay on track, especially in a busy work environment.

82

Attention to Detail

Ability to take care of details.

67

Orderliness

Ability to maintain a neat work environment.

83

Efficiency

Ability to complete tasks in a timely manner.

84

Accountability

Willingness to be accountable for the quality of one's work and performance.

73

Mental Aptitude

Assesses essential competencies that are required in the day-to-day functioning of nurses.

93

Reading Comprehension

Ability to read and understand information presented in a text or article.

100

Arithmetic

Assesses mathematical skills associated with various tasks in nursing.

83

Compliance

Degree to which Sample is willing to follow orders.

50

Overall Score

Overall aptitude for nursing.
79
Sample appears to be fairly well-suited for a job in nursing. Although he may need to work on certain skills and traits, he scored well on most of the scales. Thus, from a job fit point of view, he seems to have most of the necessary skills and traits that will allow him to succeed in this line of work. If he puts in the effort to improve upon his existing skills, he would definitely adapt well to a nursing position. In general, his personality and skills adequately match this type of occupation.

Nursing Value System

Encompasses a group of skills/traits that are essential to a fulfilling nursing career.
82
While people choose to go into nursing for various reasons, those who are more likely to want to make it a long-term career do so because nursing offers them a sense of fulfillment that isn't linked to financial compensation, and Sample appears to be one of those people. He possesses several values that are important in nursing. Review his results on the specific values for more details.

Altruism

A true desire to help others.
80
Sample tries to help others as often as possible and will put in whatever effort is necessary to fulfill their needs; in fact, he will likely give more on some occasions. He is very concerned about the welfare of others and is always willing to help when the situation calls for it. Sample is someone who patients and colleagues can turn to in times of need.

Empathy/Compassion

Ability to understand other people's feelings.
93
Sample shows a great deal of empathy and compassion for the difficulties of others. He is able to see things from other people's perspective and feel what they feel, which is an essential skill for creating satisfying and meaningful connections with others and helps him anticipate people's needs. This puts him in a better position to approach others in a manner that is productive to the development and maintenance of a relationship with them - patients will be more at ease in his presence.

Cooperativeness

Ability to work well with others.
97
Sample works hard to get along with others. He strives to be accommodating and flexible, even if it means doing things differently from what he is familiar with or prefers. This is important in nursing, as it will allow him to work more cohesively with patients, their family and the other nurses.

Desire to Learn

Assesses eagerness to learn new things and pick up new skills.
86
Sample may very well be content with his current level of knowledge and skills, but he knows that it's important to take advantage of opportunities to learn new and different things and to continuously improve himself. He knows there is room to grow and is willing to put in the effort to do so. He is an eager student and if asked to undergone training or further education, he is unlikely to turn down the chance. Sample wants to be a better, more well-rounded nurse.

Ability to deal with structured environment

Ability to adapt to a work setting that has a structured work approach and hierarchy.
79
Sample can deal with some degree of structure, but will need to time to adapt to a work environment with very strict procedures. On the one hand, nursing is a dynamic environment with the potential for last-minute changes or unexpected events, but it also a very structured setting with very specific methods of operation and conduct.

Honesty/Integrity

Assesses strength of character in situations where one would be tempted to be dishonest or insincere.
79
Sample considers integrity fairly important, and tries to practice it every day. He has a reasonably strict attitude toward unscrupulous behavior, and is likely to be the type of person will conduct himself/herself responsibly. He may be tempted to stray from this path occasionally, but his generally honorable nature will likely take over. Overall, Sample can be trusted to behave in a principled manner on most occasions.

Customer Orientation

Encompasses a group of traits/skills that are required to provide the best care possible to patients.
73
In order to help patients feel comfortable in the hands of a stranger, nurses must possess a strong customer orientation. This includes the ability to get along well with others, to make them feel at ease, and an overall desire to make them happy. Sample seems to possess at least some of the traits and skills that are the basis of a customer orientation, but some improvement will be needed. Review his results below for more details.

Social Insight

Ability to read people and social situations, and respond appropriately.
69
Although he can still improve, Sample possesses reasonably good social insight. Most of the time he is tuned in to people, able to see social situations from their perspective, and can use this information to interact effectively and productively with others. He may take the occasional social misstep, but this isn't likely to happen too often. For the most part, he is attentive to social cues and has a fairly good understanding of human nature.

Communication Skills

Ability to express oneself clearly and productively.
70
Sample's communication skills are reasonably good. He is usually capable of sending a clear message to others, and while he may occasionally find himself dealing with misunderstandings, for the most part, he knows how to express himself effectively. He should continue to work on improving his skills in this area.

Listening Skills

Ability to be an active and attentive listener.
65
Sample's listening skills are satisfactory, although there is still room for improvement. He is usually an attentive and active listener, and this makes it less likely that he will miss out on both direct and subtle information that a person is trying to get across. This is important, because patients are more likely to trust people who are willing to listen to them. In most situations, Sample is able to offer his undivided attention to others.

Agreeableness/Warmth

Assesses whether a person's demeanor exudes warmth and friendliness.
75
Sample is usually pleasant with others, although it can be hard to be friendly sometimes when he is simply not in the mood. Overall, however, he tries his best to be warm with people. Most people enjoy being around him, and it likely isn't too difficult for him to make friends. Colleagues and patients shouldn't have too much difficulty working with him.

Build Rapport and Trust

Ability to create a relationship with patients built on trust and understanding.
71
Sample usually tries to get to know his patients on a more personal level, which helps develop rapport and trust. Many nurses will do this in order to get to know a patient beyond his/her illness. Taking the time to build a rapport with patients helps ease them into a new caregiving situation, and makes Sample's work relationships more pleasant. He should strive to make this a more consistent approach in his nursing style.

Conflict Resolution Skills

Ability to resolve conflict in a healthy and professional manner.
78
Dealing with conflict isn't the ideal situation for Sample (as would be the case for most people), although he does try to resolve issues in a calm and mature manner. It can sometimes be a struggle for him to remain objective, but he has the skills needed to handle both trivial and major disagreements. Some minor improvement will be needed, which could help Sample feel more at ease in conflict situations.

Discretion

Ability to recognize situations that require discretion, and willingness to respect others' privacy.
73
Sample generally recognizes that certain situations require discretion and therefore, tries to practice it - although there may be a few occasions when he either finds it difficult to resist sharing some information, or may feel that doing so would not be considered a problem. He needs to realize that he will need to practice discretion on a consistent basis. He likely understands that there are consequences to sharing private information, but he needs to make it a point to practice discretion all the time.

Psychological Strength

Ability to deal with the trials and tribulations that are common in nursing.
77
Nursing is field that can take a psychological toll on people. It is not uncommon for nurses to be treated poorly by patients and/or their family, to have conflicts with other nurses or doctors, to have to handle many tasks per day, and to be required to complete difficult duties. Sample generally seems to have what it takes to deal with these challenges, although there are some areas that he will likely need to work on. Review his results below for more details.

Self-Control

Ability to monitor and regulate one's emotions and behavior.
82
Sample possesses exceptional control. When faced with emotionally intense situations, he is able to remain self-aware and put things in perspective. This doesn't necessarily mean that he doesn't feel negative emotions at all - he simply doesn't allow them overwhelm him or cloud his judgment. As long as he has found a healthy way to control and stabilize his emotions (and not internalize them), his self-control is an asset.

Hardy Personality

Ability to stay mentally tough in the face of hardship.
73
Some hardships will deter Sample - albeit temporarily - but most of the time, he is able to get past difficult experiences and get his life back on track. He see hardships as troublesome, but also recognizes that there are benefits to going through difficult experiences. After going through a failure or hardship he may find himself drained and perhaps even discouraged, but he tends to bounce back rather quickly. He is generally quite mentally tough and can handle difficult situations.

Fortitude

Assesses whether a person has a strong stomach.
77
Sample seems to have the stomach to deal with most of the more unpleasant nursing duties; although there may be a few that he still needs to get used to. Overall, he has the general fortitude needed to cope with this aspect of caregiving.

Adaptability

Ability to "find one's feet" when faced with sudden or unexpected situations.
73
Sample is usually ready to adapt to most changes and new situations at work, whether that means a different environment, new patients, or a wider variety of duties. Some circumstances will push him out of his comfort zone and will take a little more time for him to adjust to but overall, he can adapt fairly quickly to an assortment of new situations.

Dealing with physicality of job

Ability to cope with nursing tasks that require strength and endurance.
73
Sample seems to have the physical endurance needing to cope with the demands of nursing. There are some aspects of the job that he will need to get used to, but for the most part, he seems ready to handle this aspect of nursing. It may just be a matter of learning new or better techniques (or wearing the appropriate equipment) to handle the physical side of the job.

Coping Skills

Ability to deal with stress in a healthy manner.
74
Sample doesn't necessarily thrive under stress, but he seems to be able to handle it with relative ease. In most cases, he is able to stay calm and composed. Being in an environment where he is constantly under pressure is not his ideal setting, but when it comes to dealing with the common stressors that people often face in the workplace (e.g. added responsibility, difficult people, etc.) Sample is someone who can cope fairly well.

Tolerance/Patience

Ability to maintain one's composure in situations that test one's patience.
78
While there are a few circumstances that will test Sample's tolerance for frustration, overall, he is fairly patient. Even if his patience is pushed to its limits with seemingly endless delays, he tries hard to stay poised - and for the most part, he succeeds. Sample can continue to improve his patience by making it a point to keep annoying people and situations in perspective.

Conscientiousness

Encompasses skills required to be a productive and careful worker.
80
Sample is a committed and conscientious worker. He takes his work very seriously, and puts a dedicated effort into completing tasks properly - as he knows they should be. He is a responsible employee who can be counted on to get his job done to the best of his ability. Review his results below for more details.

Dependability

Ability to be there for others.
85
When Sample states that he will do something, he lives up to his word. He has a reputation of reliability and can be counted on to come through when others need him to. He is the go-to person people can turn to in a pinch and who can be trusted to get the job done. He strives to put in a steady effort, and is the type of nurse that becomes the solid foundation beneath the success of many hospitals, thanks to his unwavering dependability and dedication.

Diligence

Ability to complete tasks carefully and effectively.
76
Careless errors and negligence in general are rare occurrences for Sample. He is usually a careful worker who will make sure that tasks are completed correctly. While his diligence can still be improved further, he is not likely to be considered a liability in positions where safety is important.

Organization Skills

Ability to stay on track, especially in a busy work environment.
82
Sample is a person who thrives on organization. In the absence of an established process to compete tasks, he would likely create his own. He takes a methodical and systematic approach to tasks, which helps him stay on track and deal with even the most complex projects. Sample's organization is commendable.

Attention to Detail

Ability to take care of details.
67
Sample may not catch every detail, but he is fairly meticulous. He is usually willing to put in the time and effort needed to make sure the details of a task are taken care of, but perhaps becomes a little impatient occasionally. When he is tempted to skip over details, he needs to remind himself of the potential consequences of missing an error; in nursing, this type of negligence could be very serious. In general, however, Sample has a good eye for detail.

Orderliness

Ability to maintain a neat work environment.
83
Sample has a penchant for neatness. He dislikes disorder, and has probably implemented his own methods of creating order in his workspace - each item has its designated place. This not only contributes to his efficiency and productivity, but it also reflects well on him. Even if work gets hectic, he will likely still be able to maintain a pattern of order. Given that a hospital environment will expose Sample and others to germs, infection, and medical waste, his neatness is very important.

Efficiency

Ability to complete tasks in a timely manner.
84
Sample is a model of efficiency, always looking for ways to save time and energy but without losing quality as a result. He is able to create and implement solutions to improve his efficiency, making him a specialist on tasks or in a job environment that requires high productivity and a quick turnover. He can save a lot of time and resources with his work approach.

Accountability

Willingness to be accountable for the quality of one's work and performance.
73
Under most circumstances, Sample is willing to be accountable for his performance, and will take the steps necessary to make amends or changes when required. For the most part, he feels that he should be responsible for his decisions and actions, and understands that successes, errors, failures, and opportunities to learn are his responsibility. While there is still room to improve here (perhaps a slight a fear of the consequences of being accountable), he is generally a fairly responsible person.

Mental Aptitude

Assesses essential competencies that are required in the day-to-day functioning of nurses.
93
The Mental Aptitude section of the assessment included skill-testing questions assessing knowledge and skills that are an asset in nursing. Sample's results on each of these sections follow. Keep in mind that these are aptitudes that can improve with education and practice.

Reading Comprehension

Ability to read and understand information presented in a text or article.
100
Sample excelled on the reading comprehension exercise. He was able to understand the information and questions, and identify the correct responses. Reading comprehension is an important skill because Sample will be required to understand a lot of memos, manuals, charts, and medical/technical reports, which makes reading comprehension an important skill.

Arithmetic

Assesses mathematical skills associated with various tasks in nursing.
83
Sample performed extremely well on the mathematical section of the test. He was able to comprehend the problems and what was required of him to obtain the correct response.

Compliance

Degree to which Sample is willing to follow orders.
50

Note: The ideal score for this scale is in the mid-range. The Compliance factor does not count toward the overall score.

Sample is willing to be compliant, but not under all circumstances. If necessary, he will question some requests that others make of him, especially if following orders could harm a patient. Essentially, he won't follow orders blindly, and if there is a doubt in his mind, he will suggest an alternate course of action. There is a fine balance between being a "renegade" nurse and a submissive nurse, and Sample seems to be able to achieve that balance.

Impression Management

Probability of social desirability bias

What is Impression Management?

Impression Management assesses the degree to which results on a test are distorted, biased, or manipulated. It is added to assessments like this one in order to call attention to suspicious test-taking behavior. When taking aptitude or personality tests, some people will try to present themselves in a better light, especially if the stakes are high, such as when they are applying for a job. The person may deliberately or subconsciously choose to underreport negative behaviors or overreport positive ones, or he or she may select responses that he or she believes other people will give under the same circumstances. Other names for concepts similar to Impression Management (though not necessarily identical) include Social Desirability, Gaming the Test, Faking, Faking Good, Distortion, Lying, and Self-deception.

How is Impression Management assessed?

A test-taker's answers on the Impression Management questions are compared to the responses of the general population who also took this assessment. When someone selects socially desirable responses that are rarely endorsed by other people, there is reason to believe that a self-presentation bias is at play.

It is important to keep in mind that a socially desirable response to any single Impression Management question could actually be the truth, in that the person is actually as good or as skilled as he or she is claiming to be. However, if most or all the questions on the scale follow a socially desirable pattern, it is unlikely that the person is being truthful, though not entirely impossible.

How should an Impression Management score be interpreted?

The information offered by an Impression Management scale is meant as a cautionary note, an indication to pay careful attention to the test-taker's results and to his or her responses in an interview. A high probability of social desirability casts doubt on a person's results, but this doesn't mean that he or she should automatically be dismissed solely based on that. The hiring manager should view this as a sign that they need to be particularly thorough when interviewing the candidate, paying special attention to the skills and traits a person claims to have and probing in the interview to see if the person is really as good as he or she claims to be. For additional tools that can help with the hiring process, we suggest that you use the interview questions module available in ARCH Profile, which provides questions that are tailored to a test-taker's results and specifically designed to probe deeper.

There is one caveat: any Impression Management scale can produce a false negative. People who are familiar with psychometrics may be able to detect Impression Management questions and achieve a low score. A false positive is also possible, in which a person is actually as wonderful and honest as he or she claims to be. However, both of these conditions are quite rare.

How did this test-taker perform on Impression Management?

The probability that Sample's responses were influenced by social desirability bias is low.

This means that while he picked a few responses that are associated with "faking good," it is likely that his results on the scales are a fairly accurate reflection of how he conducts himself in real life. It is always a good idea to validate that by asking probing interview questions in which you solicit concrete examples of situations when he displayed certain positive characteristics or competently managed challenging circumstances.

The following is a summarized version of Sample's results, categorized as Strengths, Potential Strengths, and Limitations.

Strengths

  • He has a strong desire to help others
  • He shows empathy and compassion
  • He is willing to be cooperative with others
  • He has an eagerness to learn
  • He is dependable
  • He is good at controlling his emotions
  • He is able to stay organized
  • He is able to keep his work environment tidy
  • He is efficient
  • His reading comprehension is excellent
  • He has strong math skills

Potential Strengths

  • He can eventually adapt to a structured work environment
  • He strives, at least to some degree, to practice honesty and integrity
  • He shows some skill at picking up on social cues
  • His communication skills are satisfactory
  • He is sometimes able to be an attentive and active listener
  • He shows some degree of warmth toward others
  • He has some skill at building a rapport with others
  • He resolves conflict reasonably well, at least on some occasions
  • He is willing to be discrete and respect confidences on some occasions or in some situations
  • He shows some degree of hardiness/mental toughness
  • He can stomach some unpleasant situations/tasks
  • He does learn to adapt to new situations after some time
  • He can deal with some of the physical aspects of nursing
  • He can cope with some degree of stress
  • He is moderately patient
  • He is moderately diligent
  • He is somewhat meticulous
  • He shows some willingness to be accountable

Limitations

  • No limitations detected
Words of wisdom from one of the most well-known nurses: "I attribute my success to this - I never gave or took any excuse." (Florence Nightingale)

Advice made available with actual full reports only.

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