TEXAS RN's: Is HESI harder than NCLEX?

[CrazyScrubNurse]

That is the question that has been tossed around recently in our community. We as 4th level nursing students just took the HESI last week. Only 22 out of 80 passed with and 850+. Everyone including RN's who recently took NCLEX has said that the HESI was way harder than boards. Just wondering in any of you that have taken both have an opinion on the comparisons of these 2 tests.

Thanks

[denija2000]

taking the HESI since Level I ...i feel confident in saying that YES it is definitely harder than the NCLEX..however I do feel like it helped in preparing for the NCLEX..although I passed HESI in all levels and i passed the NCLEX on the first time I can say that without taking the HESI i might have gone into boards expecting lighter content!! Hope you pass..read that study guide book to pass HESI and do as many practice questions as you can to help with the NCLEX!! Good Luck:nurse:

[foxyhill21]

HESI is harder. Despite the fact that while I was in nursing school I resented my school for making us take the HESI. But taking HESI made boards............easy!!! So in the end I am glad TWU made me take HESI.

[Eagle3239]

Forgive my ignorance, but I thought the HESI was the test you take prior to being accepted into nursing school and the NCLEX was the state boards...is that not correct?

[CrazyScrubNurse, BSN, RN]

Yes there is also a HESI that you take before starting but it is general knowledge stuff like A&P, reading, etc.

The one that we are talking about is the exit HESI that is like taking state boards. Ours was 160 questions. It is hard and some that fail the HESI will still pass NCLEX. It is supposed to be a predictor of your success on NCLEX but unfortunantly some schools are using it as an exit exam. My school is which really bites because half of our class failed it (scored below 850) and only have 1 try to pass it left May 1st....7 days before our pinning ceremony. If they don't, they have to repeat critical care next year and don't graduate.