Are Students Protesting HESI??

2btmanrn · Jun 23, 2008

I almost lost a classmate this past week. This crisis has been so traumatic for me and my classmates. We are all very close. Anyway, I found the website its on facebook. I think you need to be validated to get in it. Not sure.

Its not HESI itself that I blame. It is the school who has not fully utilized HESI as a whole. I feel that the program should have measured the students areas of weakness from the beginning, middle and end. I feel that HESI should have been incorporated in the program. I also feel that the school should have told the students in a timely manner. Most of all, I feel the students should have the degrees they have worked hard for not be punished based on proability exam. This exam accounts for the probability of whether or not you will pass NCLEX the first time but its also accounts for the nursing curriculum.

Good Luck to the rest of you. I hope you fight for the right to get your degrees and sit for boards. This is all for the students who were not told in a timely manner, and or lack preparation and or whose school punishes them for not being successful using a probability exam. Help the students strengthen their abilities to test for HESI so that they can pass NCLEX the first time. Don't just throw them away like garbage. My classmates and other students have families...children.

studymom39 · Jun 30, 2008

The Hesi is used for the school's accreditation. That's what our meds pub review lady told us and she shared her opinion that the proof of what we learned should be seen in the fact that we graduated - not necessarily a Hesi test. It does not benefit the student. In fact, we were told we couldn't get cleared from the school to take the nclex until we got a 900. Some people will never get that and they are already lowering the standard and letting people stop taking it. I passed with a 942. It was given in winter quarter during critical care and I got an 804. Then you pay $35 thereafter. Everyone wishes it was given after all our quarters of school. They told us that they only expected 10% to pass the first time. So,the question of money for subsequent tests is obvious. One good thing is that is kicks your butt into gear asap to study, study, study. For that, I am glad. I originally approached it as a litmus test for nclex but this woman said they were two totally different tests - Hesi is pickier, more micromanaging, more college textbook stuff and NCLEX is "the big picture".

The Hesi didn't appear to be a concise logic. For example, in our meds pub review we were told to use certain approaches. These work in Mosby's, for example, but they don't work for many of the Hesi questions. The only thing I can recommend to people is to study as many questions as possible in another book, study the book - line by line, memorize the questions on the cd because some of those may show up (as do some repeat questions from the first test) and just think about what the question is that's being asked. I can't site examples because I agreed to a confidentiality agreement. But I think what helped me was doing over 3,000 Mosby's questions and just going over the Hesi book repeatedly, word for word. The practice questions develop a "sense" of things - you're more likely to make an educated guess.

Our reviewer for meds pub, the one I told you writes questions for the boards, didn't have much positive feedback for Hesi. She said it would confuse us. She said it's pickier than the Boards - more a reflection of what you can prove you learned in college. Whereas, the boards are more global, the "big picture" as she put it. Again, it's for college accreditation.

Good practice though! Do 100 questions a day for at least 30 days before the test. One thing they should be doing differently is preparing students at least 6 weeks in advance on how to prepare for these tests.

studymom39 · Jun 30, 2008

The passing score for Hesi is on average, 800-850 across the country per the meds pub review lady. The Hesi says 850 is the standard they push. The school can choose another number. UC sets the magic number at 900.

If we only had to score and 800 or 850, many more would have passed.

So, when you hear people say the Hesi was so 'easy', make sure you ask what was required of them. It's a difficult test but not undoable. Just keep practicing. I worked very hard to get my 942. Very hard. If I only needed an 800, I had that back in February before I even finished Critical Care with little effort. To get that 942 mark, I studied a lot more.

One thing, because some of the questions seem poor in terms of logic, it's easy to over-read into the easier ones. I caught myself thinking, "this is too easy" but went with the sense of what the answer was. There is a mix of common sense and oddly-logiced questions that still don't make sense to me.

studymom39 · Jun 30, 2008

In response to the person who wrote about the likelihood of passing nclex based on Hesi - that's what's on the web - but the woman who gave us our Meds Publishing review (and writes questions for the boards) said that is simply not true. She said, repeatedly, they are two totally different tests. That said, everyone that I know who passed hesi has passed nclex but some really struggled and answered the average number of questions (120).

Again, Hesi is reported by her to be pickier, and the NCLEX is supposed to be "big picture".

I will definately let you know - I'm waiting on a NCLEX test date. Here's another random hint she told us. When you memorize the Digoxin toxicity - early vs late - group it into GI and Neuro. GI is early - nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite; Neuro is later - green, yellow halos. For CHF - remember the 3 D's - Diet, Diuretic, Digoxin Digoxin -think 60,80, 100. These are pulses. Right? Check apical pulse for 1 full minute and hold if below 60 for adult, below 80 for school age child and below 100 for baby. In school, we were only told the 60. This was helpful for us! And know the dig lab range. She said that Glascow is not on boards per say - just to know that 15 is perfect and below 7 is coma I believe. That was it. Save temperature for last on vital signs for infants - she said that's big on boards. On central line, always end with heparin. She gave us something on "SASH" - saline flush, aspirate or antibiotic, saline, heparin. I just used this on a test I took and it worked. Only once choice gave heparin.

Hope this helps.

futurecnm · Jun 30, 2008

In response to the person who wrote about the likelihood of passing nclex based on Hesi - that's what's on the web - but the woman who gave us our Meds Publishing review (and writes questions for the boards) said that is simply not true. She said, repeatedly, they are two totally different tests. That said, everyone that I know who passed hesi has passed nclex but some really struggled and answered the average number of questions (120).
Again, Hesi is reported by her to be pickier, and the NCLEX is supposed to be "big picture".
I will definately let you know - I'm waiting on a NCLEX test date. Here's another random hint she told us. When you memorize the Digoxin toxicity - early vs late - group it into GI and Neuro. GI is early - nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite; Neuro is later - green, yellow halos. For CHF - remember the 3 D's - Diet, Diuretic, Digoxin Digoxin -think 60,80, 100. These are pulses. Right? Check apical pulse for 1 full minute and hold if below 60 for adult, below 80 for school age child and below 100 for baby. In school, we were only told the 60. This was helpful for us! And know the dig lab range. She said that Glascow is not on boards per say - just to know that 15 is perfect and below 7 is coma I believe. That was it. Save temperature for last on vital signs for infants - she said that's big on boards. On central line, always end with heparin. She gave us something on "SASH" - saline flush, aspirate or antibiotic, saline, heparin. I just used this on a test I took and it worked. Only once choice gave heparin.
Hope this helps.

I have taken HESI exams throughout school and NCLEX last month. NCLEX was definately NOT easier at all. I passed both and did not find one more "big picture" than the other. NCLEX also asks some very specific questions. They are not all general. And I think HESI was very helpful as far as what a student's strong points are and where to study. All these schools would not be using HESI if it were not helpful in some way (or required).

studymom39 · Jun 30, 2008

I'm envious that schools actually test students with hesi throughout. We got it at the end with little "big picture" preparation.

I will give an honest assessment when i take the NCLEX. But, that is what we were told and the lady who told us writes questions for the boards so I will judge it when I take it. That is what we were told.

I have heard of school saying that students get 2 tries and that's it but I imagine they'd be up for a lawsuit. I think the bark is sometimes worse than the bite. UC, for example, says you have to get a 900 to pass but already people gettign 866 or somewhere in that range are getting emails saying they're passed through. It appears that the higher the numbers are, the better the school looks as well as higher numbers for nclex.

If i don't pass nclex after scoring a 942 on Hesi - there will be some serious advertising of that fact!!!!!!!! Luckily, I have a job waiting across the river in Kentucky and there isn't much pressure per say. Some people, however, have pressure from their jobs to get it passed and get going. That is hard, very hard.

piel_canela26 · Jul 1, 2008

I think its sad that they make the HESI a requierement to graduate, i think its a waste of money and time to take since the nclex in nothing like it.

studymom39 · Jul 1, 2008

...but when you do pass, especially with over a 900 which was my school's requirement, it feels really good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nothing about nursing school has been easy for me. I worked very, very hard each step of the way. It was the final test for me with this college and I met their high requirement. How can that not feel good?

(Our school keeps working with students if there's a problem...)

student4life08 · Jul 3, 2008

Thank you to everyone who posts relevant, helpful, positive information. This has been one of the best forums I have viewed so far.

I need help! I am still a nursing student who's university (I think) requires a 900 as a passing score on the Hesi Exit Exam to graduate. I say (I think) because I'm really not even sure if my school or community even know what is happening. It is an outrage to have met all the requirements, passed my tests and the curriculum to be denied my degree and denied to sit for my state boards licensure exam.

I have taken and "not passed" the Hesi Exit 3 times! My scores have been 740, 848, and then I just made a 761 this last time! I don't understand. I have been using and studying the Hesi study guide and c.d. for 2 years and studying thousands of nclex style questions from 7 different sources. I have the kaplan book, mosbys, saunders, nclex rn, nclex made incredibly easy, flashcards, evolve materials, everything I can find!

I have been told that I have one more try in 4 weeks and that's it! After that, what? No degree. Done. Finished. I'm 24 years old with a BSN education and nothing to show for it.

After the 2nd attempt, some of my classmates and I petitioned together to change the 900 score back to at least 850. I don't think that is too much to ask. 900 is way too high of a score for such a high stakes test. Of course, I haven't heard a response to this yet. I truly believe the faculty just pushed it under a pile of papers thinking oh when they pass this next time no one will bring this up again. This test is so demeaning. I shouldn't be denied the chance to take the boards which is the only test that grants me licensure to practice nursing in all 50 states!

They fail to tell you that Hesi questions are unlike NCLEX questions, so all of this studying and remediation relying on true nclex questions and resources as a study guide are actually leading me down the wrong road, ultimately making my Hesi scores suffer. That is only my opinion. Also, I really don't believe that the faculty is even qualified to "teach" remediation courses or "study prep" courses for this exam. They haven't even taken the exam. I really wonder what their scores would be.

Each attempt, they instruct me to do different things. I am a guinea pig! It is not right! This is not a test, it is a tool. Don't they get that?

WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2008

I don't think they should keep you from being able to get into another nursing program just because you didn't pass hesi. My school has HESI all through the program, at the end of 2nd quarter, 3rd quarter and an exit. They do however keep you from graduating as the exit hesi is counted as the final exam. This ****** off a lot of my classmates as they swore it wasn't in our contract. I firmly remember being told there would be such a test at the end, but not that it was a requirement to graduate. I didn't have to much of a problem with it, as I did well on the previous three hesi's. We needed to get an 850 and I got an 837 my first attempt, I was devestated. I realized it was the med/surg that hurt me since it had been 2 quarters since we had focused on it. I studied and passed the second time with a score over 900. I also agree that the hesi and the nclex are nothing alike. Our instructors even said as much, which is why our Kaplan review was after the hesi. And our school also had a hesi review before to review med/surg. They gave the tools to pass, we just had to use them. I don't know though who you can protest too to get you degree. Especially since the school in question is not using hesi the way its supposed to be used. There has to be something, somewhere. Protesting hesi isn't the answer, the school yes. Schools hate bad press, go to the newspaper.

Simpleplan · Jul 6, 2008

I'm sorry, I would be upset too. I am pretty sure 97% of a class not graduating reflect badly on a school. If schools do not graduate a certain percentage of their class the school loses funding. Of course, they also need a good percentage to pass the NCLEX.

Proverbs 16:3 · Jul 7, 2008

The Hesi wouldn't be so bad of a test if you had acquired a good program. Meaning good instructors, appropriate tools, and most of all notified of it in a timely manner. Our school failed in all aspects of all of the above. We were never familiarize with any sort of computer exams, nor were we ever told of any areas of weakness. I don't mind taking any exam, as long as I get heads up first. But I was definetly freaked out by being told less than two months before graduation and than telling me if I don't pass it I can sit for boards. Give me the opportunity to practice for goodness sakes. If my instructors didn't have much information about it, how may to? Now, 97% of my classmates can't sit for boards, no degrees, can't even get back into the program or any other program. FOUR years- gone.

Ya know, i wonder if it makes a difference. We weren't told about a HESI when we started our program. However the very next quarter, we had to take a HESI at the end of our adult clinical class and since then we took a hesi for every nursing class...mostly clinical ones and a few others. Those little Hesi's were only 5% of our grade and students didn't care about it. For 3 years, we took the HESIs knowing that when we get to senior year, we'll need an 850 to graduate. Well, when we got to senior year, they jacked it up to 900. Did they prepare us? yes. We had 2 classes, one class where we show up, review a different subject and take a HESI every 2weeks. We took 5 HESIs that quarter, medsurg, maternity, pharm, psych and peds. We were even given free ATI practice exams which i only took one of them and never cared to take the rest because it didn't count towards our grade. We also had the 2nd class during or final quarter which was also a review class except we didn't take a HESI every 2 weeks for that. We just took the final HESI at the end.

Despite all these things, did half of the students fail the HESI the first time? yes. Were we given materials to prepare with? yes. We had nclex prep tools, we had access to other ATI materials and tests codes we could use to practice at our free will, various online materials including those HESI case studies. I heard from people who did the case studies that it helped on the HESI...i didn't do them. Did i use any of those other material?s no. I'm not saying i didn't ace the HESI because i actually did quite the opposite. The thing is not all of us make use of the prep materials we're given. Some of us don't use them because we know we can breeze through the HESI and some, i don't know what their reason is.

I totally agree schools should disclose let students know about the HESI. They may put it in the student handbook but some of us don't read it...i know cuz i'm one. Will telling students they have to pass the HESI deter them from enrolling in the nursing school? i kinda doubt it. Why? because most people who enter nursing school have very high GPAs. Do i know peope with 4.0 GPAs from comm. college who couldn't make it in my program? yes. Did i transfer from a comm. college? Yes. That's where i have to disagree when people say people from community can't do well in a 4year school because, most of the people in my class transferred in and we did well. Thing is everyone who enters nursing school is an intelligent student so i don't see how telling them about the HESI would prevent them from pursuing nursing.

I'm not in favor of using the HESI to destroy peoples future and making their time and efforts in nursing school a collosal waste. I think schools need to be sued for that because i know people who came out of school with over $120k in debt and if they weren't allowed to graduate because of a common exam, that's a lot of "excuse the language i can't write here."

I do think that the HESI is good test, it kinda makes you know how well you can do and most of my seniors who were average students in my school told me they passed the nclex the first time with just 75 questions. I know one who took the HESI twice....and she thought the nclex was a piece of cake. Do i think she would've passed if she'd taken the nclex without taking the HESI? Absolutely! I don't think the Hesi made any difference when it comes to her nclex success. Maybe having to study for it twice may have helped, i don't know.