If you want to graduate from Nursing School, you'll pass the test!
Whether you like it or not, many nursing schools require a specific score on a HESI exit exam in order to successfully graduate from their program. What is a passing score? Well, it's different for each school, but most require a passing score somewhere between 830-900.
How do schools come up with their own passing score? Passing the HESI has a correlation factor that tries to predict if you will pass the NCLEX on the first attempt. Nursing schools want you to pass boards on the first try because their accreditation hinges on the pass rates. If too many students fail the NCLEX, then the state board will investigate the institution. Too many years of investigations and the state board can close the school.
There is a lot of debate between educators, students, and state boards in regards to the HESI exit exam. Some states have forbidden nursing schools from failing students based on the HESI passing score. You may want to check with the school to see what their specific graduation criteria says, or check with the state board of nursing to see what is allowed in your state.
There are usually a couple of weeks between graduation and the date you take the NCLEX. Many hospitals have started asking for a copy of your final HESI exam results. Passing exam results will let the hospital know that you're a strong candidate to pass state boards and they feel secure in hiring you.
Is there a secret for passing? No, but there are some tips and tricks than can help you prepare.
- Create a Study Group. Gather up a few classmates and plan to meet on a regular basis. By studying together, you tend to remember things better and you can support each other if you begin to feel frustrated or overwhelmed.
- Attend a review session. Several hospitals, universities, and private test preparation centers will hold review sessions. Some names to look for - Hurst, Kaplan, and Sylvia Rayfield. Each review session costs money, but could be worth it if it helps you graduate. Additionally, if you go with a group of friends, you can create your own study groups.
- Purchase an Online Review. Some organizations offer one, three, or five week review sessions that you can complete online. You will need a fast internet connection and the ability to download their software. Several, such as NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing), will give you additional study tips, relaxation techniques, and additional terminology to help you decipher tricky questions.
- Remediation books directly from HESI. Each book comes with a disc that contains practice exams. If you know the material, but have difficulty understanding what the questions are actually asking, then taking practice exams on your computer may be a good strategy for you. Each exam comes with question rationales for the questions you miss. The more you read the rationales, the more you can figure out what the heck the questions mean.
- Other study guides. Look for any books that say “NCLEX PREP.” These are usually very safe to study from. Try to complete at least ten questions per day. Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your knowledge. When you are done, read the rationales for the questions you have completed, even if you answered correctly. Some good books to look for - Saunder's Review Book, Silvestri's Strategy for Success, and Frye's 3300. Everyone has their own preference, so you may want to see what your instructors recommend or what you can find at the library. Just be sure that you're using the most current copy of each book to study from. Most are updated every year.
- Specific Remediation. If you've taken a HESI, then you'll know exactly which areas are your weaknesses. Refer back to your class notes for certain topics, or look for the “Insanely Easy” series. For example, a lot of students are weak in Endocrine. You wouldn't necessarily buy ten different books to view only the Endocrine topics. Try to find a specific Endocrine book or look back through your pathophysiology notes.
- Common Sense? Many of the questions on the HESI are common sense questions; however, the question is worded to look very complicated. The trick is to eliminate the extraneous information and really think about what the question is asking without reading into it too much. Only practice can help you do this. Test taking is a skill and like any skill, you need practice to master it.
- Tell your family and friends to give you some space for a couple of weeks. Family, work, relationships - they all need to realize that if they love you, they need to give you peace and quiet while you study. It can be difficult for them to understand, because I'm sure they want to help and support you. However, a friend who comes over to help you study and brings her children - that's not going to be much help. A mother who brings meals over to your apartment and then nags that you haven't cleaned up - that's not going to be much help, either. You need to explain to everyone that studying is your top priority and until you pass your exams, you need some “me time.” If your support system doesn't understand, then you need to distance yourself from everyone for a few hours each day. Go to the library, a coffee house, a quiet park - someplace that offers a peaceful place to study.
- Eat a good breakfast the day of the exam and bring a snack. A full stomach will help you concentrate - just don't overdo it! Some exam proctors will let you take bathroom breaks. If your exit exam is 150 questions, then you may want to stop at 75 questions, use the rest room, eat a protein bar, and walk around for a minute - make sure you have permission to do so! Taking a quick mental break will refresh and renew your brain, allowing you to continue the exam without the questions blurring together.
- Realize that you're not alone. Many nurses have come before you and have passed the HESI exams. If others can do it, so can you. You've made it this far in nursing, so obviously, you're not stupid! Stay positive!
I've taken the HESI, but I'm not a nurse. I'm an exam proctor. I don't get paid to recommend books. The above tips are some of the things I've learned as a proctor. I've seen straight A students fail, and I've seen C students pass with flying colors - your own personal motivation can determine your success. Don't think the exam is stupid or incorrect. Negative and cynical thinking will get you nowhere!
You will have all the time in the world to think the exam was total BS…AFTER you graduate! Good luck!
