[CorgiMom]

I am amazed that so many posters have opinions about things they know nothing about. What do you know about these standardized tests and why schools choose to administer them? These forums sometimes sound like conversations I hear in the local beauty shop - gossip without substance.

[MAISY, RN-ER]

Originally Posted by CorgiMom

I am amazed that so many posters have opinions about things they know nothing about. What do you know about these standardized tests and why schools choose to administer them? These forums sometimes sound like conversations I hear in the local beauty shop - gossip without substance.

Assuming you know, why don't you enlighten us? I'd be interested in understanding how the HESI is necessary for becoming a nurse. The state of NJ states the NCLEX is the licensing test. Other than a school collecting fees for testing, possible monies from testing/teaching facilities, and the biggest boon of all having students continue paying outrageous tuitions. I don't get it.

I do know that Seton Hall charges $30k+ per year....alot of money not to pass a standardized nursing test.

Maisy

[gentlegiver]

My big question is why are they trying to achieve a 64% or 72%?? Whe we study to pass the minimum grade we need to then we are indeed in deep doodoo!

[Shay1]

We also have to take a similar test- like a predictor test in WI. The score has a funny formula.. like if you get a 70% it could say that you have a 90% chance of passing the NCLEX on the first try.. What I am thinking (because mine did as well) was say that you need to acheive a certain score (and its based on program mean and national mean) to try and get above a certain pass rate. Let me explain, the score I received was a 73% and said I would have a 96% chance of passing the NCLEX on the first try. The school I go too was looking to see what my pass rate would be so that they know how to make their students successful to pass the NCLEX on the first try.. I hope that clears it up.
If a student didn't receive the certain " passing grade" I am guessing each school has their own bar they wish to set, then they offer all these practice NCLEX simulation type courses to help the student bring their average up - thus having a better chance of passing the NCLEX on the first time.
Hope this all makes sense!

[txnurse32]

In my nursing program class grade had to be 76%. The bad part was at the end of the semester we had 3 ati test on top of a coupe tests and the final. We had to have around a 70 on the ati to pass.Which sounds easy but not when the national average score is in the 60's. I did ok but still it adds too much stress at the end.

[alyx]

Hi all..I have no idea what our schools NCLEX passing rate is, but I know our class reguirements are tough..but appropriate. I have now finished my first year..passed. The more I get to know how everything functions within the classroom, clinicals etc...the more I feel for our instructors..they spend way more time than they get paid for trying to help us...their hands are often tied by the institution as to how they should teach...and God knows they don't get paid squat for their efforts. I now sit on the fence as to who, if anyone, is responsible for poor grades. How can you test on something you weren't taught on sufficiently and didn't know was that important? How can you instruct your students well on what's important if the "powers" that be want you to teach for the test in order to make the institution look good? I'm actually wordless now about this situation and just hope that we all try to do our best and fight for what we want.
Huh...hmmmmmmmmm

[MAISY, RN-ER]

Again, not sure why you need a test to graduate. In NJ 80% is the goal set by the Board of Nursing for Accreditaton(passing NCLEX first time). Perhaps they (Seton Hall)should have higher standards in their classrooms.

I graduated in 2006, my class had a passing rate of 95%...we also had an attrition rate of 61%. Basically, the program was sooooo tough, that either you could hack it or not!

My point is that perhaps the nursing part of these 4 year programs should be done in the beginning. If a student can't hack it, they are booted prior to failing HESI, or any other standardized test-saving themselves and their parents some money. Personally I think it's disgusting that institutions leave students with this problem.

It should be investigated.

Maisy