Nervous about TEAS and lack of certain knowledge

Nursing Students TEAS

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I am in the process of a complete career change; I have a BS in education, but after 10 years in education, I was forced out and burned out of that career field. I took a CNA course last summer and found a job as a CNA and have discovered that I love working in the medical field and staying a CNA for the rest of my life seems defeating to me.

I am 3 credits and the TEAS short of applying to a local community college's nursing program. I have already been accepted for the pre-reqs and will start them in the fall. However, I am absolutely terrifed of the TEAS. I never took chemistry in high school and it's been well over 15 years since I've had any sort of physical science class; chemistry was not required for my BSE. I am not necessarily worried about A&P or microbiology as I did very well in high school biology and college biology. The community college where I will be taking my nursing classes does not list chemistry as a necessary class to enter the nursing program but I'm afraid that my lack of knowledge in that area could seriously hamper my ability to pass the TEAS.

Does anyone have any advice about how to prepare myself for that portion of the TEAS without having taken chemistry?

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I guess you should start looking at a fundamentals of chemistry book and study the chem portion of the ATI study guide. Maybe you can find a textbook at a library. Maybe even Chemistry for Dummies might be helpful.

The TEAS doesn't have complicated chemistry questions (like balancing or stoichiometry) but there are basics you should know. Like charges of protons, electrons, neutrons. What isotopes are, how to read the periodic table, types of bonds (covalent, ionic), and some basics of organic chemistry. There wasn't a lot of organic chem on the test that I took but there were some q's about their solubilty.

I think you can get away with not taking a chem class but you really do need to become comfortable with the basics.

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i am in the process of a complete career change; i have a bs in education, but after 10 years in education, i was forced out and burned out of that career field. i took a cna course last summer and found a job as a cna and have discovered that i love working in the medical field and staying a cna for the rest of my life seems defeating to me.

i am 3 credits and the teas short of applying to a local community college's nursing program. i have already been accepted for the pre-reqs and will start them in the fall. however, i am absolutely terrifed of the teas. i never took chemistry in high school and it's been well over 15 years since i've had any sort of physical science class; chemistry was not required for my bse. i am not necessarily worried about a&p or microbiology as i did very well in high school biology and college biology. the community college where i will be taking my nursing classes does not list chemistry as a necessary class to enter the nursing program but i'm afraid that my lack of knowledge in that area could seriously hamper my ability to pass the teas.

does anyone have any advice about how to prepare myself for that portion of the teas without having taken chemistry?

just purchase the ati book and take both practice exams in the back. they pay for themselves! also purchase the online practice exams. after answering each question, they explain every question weather you answered right or wrong with detailed reason. i've noticed some of the questions from the practice exams are repeated/reworded on the actual exam. the answers are just moved around or they change the question. but there aren't too many surprises if you take all 4 of the practice tests. and another thing i appreciate is that even after you are done with the online practice tests, you get a summary of your results and they tell you specifically which sections you got low pecentages on and the pages in the ati book that you can find that exact information. when it comes to science just brush up on the basics of a&p/bio, chem, theory, earth sci, etc... it sounds like a lot but trust me when i say that if you buy the book from ati, you will be fine!!!

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

I took the TEAS 4.0 in '09 when I had barely finished all of the pre-requisite classes and did really well on all sections. Due to a long time on a waiting list for an ADN program, I had to take the TEAS V this past January. It had been 2.5 years since I had taken my last science class and had been working on a degree in Spanish in the meantime. My only studying for this second attempt at the TEAS was the two practice tests since I ordered my study book too late. I did well on every section except the science, I got a 67% (I score a 90% on the TEAS 4.0) but I applied to a BSN program they didn't even count the science section. I think if you buy the ATI study guide and look over the science section and get a grasp of the fundamentals you will do fine. If you take both practice tests then you will get explanations for each question and might even see some of the same questions on the test. Good luck to you!

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I'm in a similar situation. I'll be starting chemistry in the fall. To prepare I've bought Chemistry for Dummies. I'm finding it pretty helpful as easy to understand. It mostly teaches you the basics to get a strong grasp of the foundation of chemistry.

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Thanks, everyone! This makes me feel better about facing the test.

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I took the teas test on june 4th and it had 2 or 3 questions about balancing equations. I too got the study book and the online practice tests. Ive taken the teas test 2 times and passed both times. I just didnt get into the nursing program the first time and I am currently waiting on an acceptance letter..god willing!lol. oh and when u take the test...WATCH THE TIME! I wasnt paying attention and and missed 12 questions that counted against me. and it was in the easiest section for me....english. oh and what school are you applying for? I attend Georgia Piedmont tech...formerly dekalb tech.

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Hi mindy. I was reading ur post and was wandering if u r in the progran now. I finished my pre reqs last fall and m waitin to take the teas for gptc in may or. June. Any advice?

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Hi mindy. I was reading ur post and was wandering if u r in the progran now. I finished my pre reqs last fall and m waitin to take the teas for gptc in may or. June. Any advice?

NEVER GIVE UP! Thats the best advice. Its so stressful. I love it but I honestly didnt know what I was getting myself into! I have my mixed emotions...I have days I feel like I wanna quit and I have days I feel so happy and thankful to be in. The TEAS test sucks to me...I hate anything ATI....and in PN school it seems we ar suffocated with them. Im not even done with the first semester and my books stack up almost waist high...and I am 5'7!!! ....for the TEAS test....make sure you study the ATI manual. Take your time....but watch the time. Also....when you get in.....just somke advice to you...I am a cosmetologist so I enjoy lots of makeup and Noticable hairclors....I had platinum blonde on top and dark reddish brown underneath and under my bangs....well....I was told before clinicals that I had to "tone it down" and that my hair and makeup wasnt allowed at Newton and that sick patients would find it offensive! So it was either quit or go dark brown. Everything must be natural looking.

I want you to realize that its so hard. We started with 27 students and we are down to 13 now. Make sure you practice your skills evaluations because thats where we lost everyone. Oh and you will fid that a particular teacher has the hardest exams to understand, which makes it so hard to stay afloat. anything below a 70 means youre out of the program. Im trying so hard and I had the attitude that I was going to make all A's or nothing....but now my all A's idea is more like....having the mind set to just pass.! OMG its so hard! But I thank God everyday that I ws able to keep trying after 3 times! You just cant give up and you will be hanging on a prayer to keep you afloat until graduation! Keep in touch! Im sure Ill see you around!

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Thx a lot, Mindy for making out time to respond with loads of info. I really appreciate it. I will keep in touch. Whats the minimum teas score? I will b at newton campus on 3rd Apri for info. Session. Before then, i will like to get in touch with u. My email is [email protected]. Pls email me so that i can give u my phone number, if thats okay. Thx

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hey I just emailed you

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Ok.let me check mail. Thanks

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