Are Students Protesting HESI??

piel_canela26 · Jul 7, 2008

wow these are some crazy stories about the HESI thank god that in my school we were no requiered to take the HESI every semester nor did we have to get a particular grade to be able to graduate from the school.... most of us in our class did not take this test serious because it did not count towards our grades and the nclex is nothing like the hesi

Proverbs 16:3 · Jul 7, 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?

This must be frustrating. There are certain things you need to know about the HESI and afterwards, even if you don't study for it, you'll still make a 99.99 and at your very worst, a 98.something if you work the weekend prior to the monday you take the HESI. I believe praying helps my case so i thank God for his help.

The HESI book is a collosal joke if you ask me and while i feel a little guilty about selling mine to someone else because i don't think it's very helpful, i need the money and if they want it, why not. I'll be willing to help you though i'm not sure how i can over the internet....maybe we can work something out. just pm me. I'll keep you in my prayers and hopefully, you can pass this last time.

Proverbs 16:3 · Jul 7, 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.

very helpful. I saw a question about the saline thing on my final HESI. I didn't know but took a guess based on logic because i remembered someone saying you have to draw some blood and waste because of the heparin sitting there so i ruled out two answers knowing heparin had to be at the end. Thanks for the other hints.

NHGN · Jul 8, 2008

I will of course Google this on my own time, but...

I just graduated from a 4-year school with an BSN and I've never heard of, nor ever had to take, a HESI exam. It sounds like all other schools make you take multiples of these?

On to the "HESI" Googling.....

Simpleplan · Jul 8, 2008

I will of course Google this on my own time, but...
I just graduated from a 4-year school with an BSN and I've never heard of, nor ever had to take, a HESI exam. It sounds like all other schools make you take multiples of these?
On to the "HESI" Googling.....

I didn't have to take it either. I know people who are stuck and can't graduate or take the NCLEX due to HESI. I would be furious. I am curious what my score would be. Does anyone know the national average?

2btmanrn · Jul 8, 2008

WOW! I have not logged on recently. I have been studying really hard for boards. I will know in a couple of days if I passed or not. I can now officially state that nclex is much easier than Hesi.

Hesi uses lay person terms and nclex uses nursing terms.

nclex says put the dentures in the denture cup and hesi says put it in a sink pad. According to hesi both denture cup and sink pad are the same words. Anyone who has taken Hesi know exactly what I am talking about. Hesi uses "other words" nclex uses the words we were taught for four years of nursing school.

My classmates are not able to transfer to any other nursing programs. I strongly feel that we need to get together as nurses whether RN or Student Nurses and try to get this resolved. I am unable to be validated in facebook regarding the protest. As each of us pass Hesi, we tend to forget the unfairness of the situation. We will continue to read these problems because we continue to allow it.

Proverbs 16:3 · Jul 9, 2008

if you think the nclex is easier than the HESI, then i'm sure you'll pass the nclex. good luck.

MSADN, ADN · Jul 10, 2008

I made in the low 800s on the HESI exit exam, which was NOT required for graduation. 75 questions and four agonizing days after NCLEX, I passed. How did HESI do evaluating my potential for passing NCLEX?

emsspeedracer · Jul 10, 2008

A few schools in Florida heard from students about the HESI. It was mainly due to the fact that the curriculum didn't include the HESI as part of the student's grade. It was not until our practicum, that they were told it would count as part of their grade. This misrepresentation caused some investigation, and I believe no conclusion has come about yet.

PS-it is supposed to be a test of nclex success probability; I passed it fine and failed the nclex......thanks HESI:banghead:

Simpleplan · Jul 11, 2008

A few schools in Florida heard from students about the HESI. It was mainly due to the fact that the curriculum didn't include the HESI as part of the student's grade. It was not until our practicum, that they were told it would count as part of their grade. This misrepresentation caused some investigation, and I believe no conclusion has come about yet.
PS-it is supposed to be a test of nclex success probability; I passed it fine and failed the nclex......thanks HESI:banghead:

Wow, I thought if you passed the HESI you'd surely pass the NCLEX.

Kward1985 · Jul 20, 2008

I have a question. What is the HESI? I heard so many nursing students talk about how their school made it mandatory for them to take it. Our school offered ATI & mandatory to do Kaplan. Personally I thought ATI was a waste...Too much studying & busy work! (4 years of nursing school crammed into your layed out study plan) Kaplan wasnt bad, but I just took the NCLEX for the 1st time, friday, and I just found out I failed *(

So I have to find something else to do....I just wasnt for sure what the HESI was...?

dani_girl · Jul 20, 2008

My school didn't do the HESI so I really can't say anything about it but my class was the "trial run" for ATI so I know how crappy being the first can be in that regard. What a waste of money. Had to buy it thru the school, could be kicked out if didn't buy it by such date, $500 bucks.. then they didn't use it for a year! Because the instructors didn't have a clue how to implement it!

When they started discussing the idea of making it a factor on passing, my class revolted. Luckily for us we had some honest and great instructors who backed us up.. ATI sounds like HESI.. they are ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL TOOLS.. that is it.. tools. they can not MEASURE all I know, nor can they TEACH me all I need to know.. if such was the case, I would have just bought them and not gone to school.

When one instructor, who was notorious for belittling people (instructors, students, staff, all) ripped in to my class in another teacher's lecture (actually came in waving the paper) stating that we (the class) obviously don't read, or study, and should not graduate based on the results.. ect ect ect.. I snaped. I asked what she got on that exam..:argue: after being blasted for that I said "Well I have gotten A's on all your exams in your content.. and I flunked the ATI on that content.. so explain it to me.. do I know nothing, are you not teaching me what is neccessary and relevant to this content, or is ATI not the be all end all that you claim it is... and sat down.

A few weeks later another instructor told me after that a few of them took some of the tests (ATI doesn't give the teachers the answers or content.. so they borrowed a students id and password) and they didn't do so hot themselves! :nuke: lol.. so it became additional again.. some classes offered extra credit for doing them..

Anyway.. sorry for the long rant.. getting off of the soap box now:spbox:

What I got on here to say was that stinks.. and 2Btmanrn have you guys looked up cases where students fought back against ATI?? I know you guys were HESI but it is similar.. I know of a couple cases that made headlines re: not getting degrees d/t ATI.. might be helpful.. that and find your nursing school handbook (you know that thing you never looked at.. or at least I didn't) and see if it is in there.. if not you have grounds.. fight

Good luck to you and your class, I hope you guys get your degrees! Keep us posted!!! ***now I have to go back to my NCLEX questions.. aghh***