When Can I Take the LMSW Exam?

When should I take the LMSW examination? The LMSW is designed to test one's ability to provide quality patient care.

The LMSW is a preliminary medical classification used by the Texas Department of State Health Services to determine whether an individual is capable of providing services of a specialist or emergency physician. When a patient is given the LMSW, he or she is deemed fit for the role of a specialist. It's only then that he or she can be categorized as such.

In order to assess and classify one's competence in a medical capacity, the State has designated a Texas LMSW to be administered in order to create a standard medical classification. This classification is considered the standard test to see if an individual is capable of working in an emergency room. It's only through the proper use of the state-mandated LMSW that physicians are able to provide the highest quality services to their patients.

The LMSW consists of three components. These components are:

The LMSW will also encompass several tests which allow a medical professional to demonstrate his or her abilities in certain medical specialties. For example, the Houston Medical Treatment Examination (HMT) will be part of the LMSW exam. The HMT is a series of examinations conducted by Houston specialty doctors and nurses in order to provide a basis for assessing patient-physician relationship skills. The HMT can be conducted to determine the proficiency of a health practitioner in conducting the examinations he or she has been trained for.

The University Examination for Professional Certification in Surgery (UEPISS) is part of the LMSW examination. During the UEPISS, a registered nurse conducts a physical examination to evaluate each medical specialty. Since surgical procedures include sterilization, blood analyses, handling anesthesia, keeping equipment sterile, and so on, this medical examination allows a person to assess and qualify his or her suitability for a particular surgery.

The LMSW exam consists of three sub-component exams:

The main component of the LMSW exam is called the Joint Examination. During this portion of the exam, the examining nurse takes several detailed physical examinations of the patient's general and abdominal anatomy.

The emergency room component of the LMSW exam is called the Evaluation of Emergency Care. During this examination, the examining nurse evaluates the patient's clinical and emergency care. The Nurse Administrator (NARE) will be present during the examination so that it is understood that she is the final decision maker and authority on the patient's care.

The education component of the LMSW exam is called the Emergency Medicine Evaluation. In this portion of the exam, the examining nurse and the NARE evaluate the capabilities of each individual based on their level of education. This portion of the exam assesses the ability of a health professional to appropriately treat patients in the emergency room, whether that patient is a specialized patient or a non-specialized patient.

The education component of the LMSW exam is called the Medical Education Examination. During this examination, the nurse is assessed to see how well he or she can treat a non-specialized patient with surgical complications. Additionally, the nurse is required to evaluate the abilities of an attending doctor to successfully treat patients in a hospital environment.

The LMSW examis commonly required by specialty doctors and nurses who want to care for patients in an emergency room setting. However, this particular medical classification is also utilized by various other medical professionals including residents, and anesthesiologists. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) administers the LMSW exam to ensure the state's security and best interests of all of its citizens.