ATI testing in our school

Ayvah, RN · Jan 26, 2006

We have to pay around a hundred dollars each semester which includes the test and book(s) and dvd(s). We have to score above the 50th national percentile (which as others have explained, varies on the actual percentage you need to get) So basically you have to do better than half the nation's Associate's students to pass that. If you don't, you have to remediate on your own time, and can take as much time as you'd like to complete their remediation test and get a 90%. I found the test mirrors most, but not all, of the course content. They give details at the end about what answers you got wrong and what areas you should study. So the test is OK in my experience. The dvd's are ok too. However, I do not like the books that they give whatsoever. The first semester's book was fine, but the last two semesters books that I've gotten have been different. The book's chapters are just full of bullet points which really don't explain things in detail. For example, on the burn section, there is a bullet point that says something like "rule of nine" and that's it. It would be nice if they explained key concepts. I don't want to have to read the book only to have to reference other books.

I do not find these books helpful, and many students at my school are aggravated that we have to pay for these materials, regardless of whether or not we want them. When it comes down to it, I learn a lot more studying from my NCLEX review book than I do studying off the ATI books. To the OP, that sounds harsh that if you do not meet their requirements on one test that you have to retake the semester. :uhoh21:

MissBrn, ADN, RN · Jan 26, 2006

:angryfire Here's my take on the ATI's, which I have to take also. They are tests that show how well the school is doing. I have heard that this is part of how they keep their credentials. I think it is a great learning and practice tool for us, however the whole remediation thing doesn't sit well with me. Especially since all you have to do to get a 90th percentile is memorize the answers and fill them in when you remediate at home. Good way for the schools to get the scores they "need"....huh?

What steams me even more is the whole pass/fail the course idea. You mean to tell me that an A student can go through the whole course with no problem, "fail" a PREDICTOR test and that's that? No way! Not us in our class! At the first breath of this rumor the complaints went to the top! Now we have to remediate...............but their won't be any failing of the course!

You have to get your group together and do some talkin' to the higher ups. That is just outrageous. If you are doing well you have nothing to worry about, of course. But it is the principle of the situation..........

Sunshine Sweetheart · Jan 26, 2006

This is our biggest problem....our content DOESNT correspond with our ATI tests....when we did Peds/OB we had the content AFTER the test!! I dont mind doing them its just this pass or fail....even when we have made it thru!:imbar

That seems backwards. It seems that they should only test you on the material that you have covered in class. Ous school has a good setup for the ATI testing. As others have stated I use it to study for tests.

RNinJune2007, RN · Jan 26, 2006

My school uses ATI... They must do something right, we consistantly have 100% pass rate.

RNSuzq1, RN · Jan 26, 2006

Hi EdinPA,

We had to take the ATI Teas test for admission into our Nursing Program and have taken ATI tests since first semester. We're now in our last semester and found out a couple of weeks ago that we'll be taking (6) ATI tests before the semester is over - including a comprehensive one that will include "everything"... Sort of an "ATI" blow-out... :uhoh3:

We're required to score above the 45th percentile, if not we remediate and retake the test. This is all to prepare us for the NCLEX, but as far as I know will not prevent us from graduating, you take the tests until you pass. Only problem with all these ATI tests is one you mentioned - a lot of the focus on their tests are not material we necessarily focused on in class. I always study for the ATI tests, but between studying for our regular tests, clinicals, mountains of paperwork for a Professional Issues class and our Preceptorship - it's going to be crazy trying to find time to study for (6) of them...

all4schwa · Jan 26, 2006

It is true for some schools it is a requirement to keep accredidation, for instance at the small town community college where I go. Due to low nclex pass rates in the past, this is their 'proof' that they are teaching us the right stuff.

whatnext · Feb 4, 2006

We started using the ATIs in the middle of our first semester. At first, I thought they were a waste of time. The content was different from what we learned in class, and I did awful on the first two I took, even though I was getting A's in class. At the end of our second semester, I started using the ATI books to help study since they summarize the subjects. One of our instructors told us the proctored tests tell them what they need to spend more time on, although they aren't able to cover everything that we are tested on. She said the practice taking tests will be beneficial to prepare for the NCLEX, just getting used to answering questions on the computer. I have been getting high scores (70s and 80s) on my proctored exams, so I hope they are as good at predicting NCLEX passing as they claim. This is my last semester, and we have to go back and take almost every nonproctored exam again and pass with a 60%, and pass all of our proctored exams with a 60% before we graduate. They are being especially hard on us this year because 6 people failed the NCLEX last year and they want a 100% pass rate. I'm curious to see if this will work.