Hello,everyone. I was told by a classmate that she head that there is a website that was started by a nursing instructor. I guess the website is looking for those nursing students who completed their nursing program and were never told from the beginning about the HESI exam.
Rumors has it that this website has these students setting up a protest date, time, and place.
I really would like for anyone to let me know if they know the website or where and when they will be rallying. I would like to join in the protest.
Its about time that schools stop abusing these students because of HESI. Its about helping the students. HESI is only a probability exam.
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.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Unfortunately, I have no good news for you. After 4 attempts at the Hesi Exit still needing a 900 to pass, I still only made an 865. The Chair of my nursing program has washed her hands with me. I was told, to either change my major or go to another nursing program. Can you even believe that? I'm completely devastated. I have worked my whole life for this. I stuck it out to get into my program that is nearly impossible to get into and I've completed every course requirement, the only thing standing in the way between me and my degree and the chance to take the NCLEX is this Hesi Exit score.
I also can't believe they are just throwing me out the door like this. No concern, no help, absolutely nothing. I'm very angry and hurt. These were my "caring" faculty who saw me through the program and now to turn their backs on me for what? To look good to the National Accreditation Board that that all of their students are passing the NCLEX, but guess what they aren't more than half my class hasn't even taken the NCLEX and they have been out of school since May 10th. What is 35 more points really going to mean as far as the probability of me passing the NCLEX? Are you kidding me? I wish I could get a lawyer, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Does anyone know of any ideas?
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.
I do know exactly what you are talking about. It is so unfair. My school will not give me my degree that I earned because of this Hesi that is unreliable and impossible to study for and now I have nowhere to go and no one to turn to. I'm so frustrated.
I'm sorry, but I don't see anything wrong with schools having standardized tests as a requirement.
If students don't like the HESI, then they should investigate that before choosing a school and look elsewhere.
That might have been helpful 2 years ago, thanks. I kind of figured that one out myself after going through all of this.
The only people who support Hesi are those who profit from it, which they (Hesi Inc.) have made about $450 off of one student (me). Not including the 6 other NCLEX style review books I have purchased.
Or the faculty that has their job on the line to back up their school's policies.
This "standarized test" told me that I answered 80% of the questions correctly and that nationwide I did better than 56% of other BSN program nursing students. Don't tell me that after all my hard work, loan money that I have to start paying back, late nights, 12 hour shifts, studying constantly for 2 years, deprived of sleep, fun, and time apart from my husband that I am not competent and do not deserve my degree or at least the chance to take the Boards. I would like to see you take this Exam. The NCLEX is nothing like the Hesi.
I highly agree with everything you have said. I am not opposing the use of the standarized exam. As long as it is use accordingly. Give the exam after each nursing rotation. If they don't pass, they don't matriculate onto the next course. You don't wait to tell you students about the exam before graduation and give them the stipulation that if don't pass that they can't get their degree and they can't sit for boards.
Honestly, because of the stipulatons, that is probably why most of my classmates failed. They freaked out. Wouldn't you. We all know what the pre qualifications are to get into the program. Once you in, its not miller time. Its serious, hard work, studying long hours. No social life whatsever. Ready until you pass out. Don't forget some of the instructive destructive comments. Thats another story.
What do you do with the 100 college credit hours you accumulated passing these courses? The nursing courses are not transferrable to other programs. Lets not talk about the long waiting list some schools have.
Now my classmates have no job, no degree, and no money. Can't even be take the board exam.
Again, I have no quarrel with standarized exams. As long as they are used appropriately. According to the HESI website. it states that faculty must be held accountable,,, that this is used for remediation purposes only, and with each practice, students will be able to learn to decrease their anxiety when taking computerized test such as NCLEX. Any faculty out there understand this? Why wouldn't you want to make every attempt to help your students be successful.
I have another question, why isn't the State concerned with the school's attrition rate? Why is the State only concerned with first time test takers for NCLEX when its they, the state that made the rules that you can take NCLEX as many times as you want up to three years. That averages up to 12 times in three years. Odd isn't it? Afterall, its their exam that determines the competency of the examinee as a nurse. The state does not mandate HESI exams either.
The fairlure of the students with this exam mirrors the nursing curriculum. Why are the students the only ones being punished? Why are the students being used as escapegoats? The teachers, administrators, and schools are making money. The state gives them money. What about the students who don't have a job, because they don't have an license or a degree? What about the bills they have accumulated from this school?
Some people posted here, that we should of asked questions and done research on the school before attending it. Well, some did and some didn't. Most of all, whats posted in the school are the NCLEX pass rate. Now, since I passed NCLEX they can say 98% passing rate. There were only three who passed HESI and out of the three only one passed. No one will ever know about the rest of students who completed the program and are officially kicked out because HESI score predicted that only 85-90% would they pass NCLEX the first time. My opinion, if someone told my that 85 to 90% chance I would pass NCLEX the first time around is an excellent chance. Don't you?
Remember, I am not opposing standarized exam, I am all for it. Just make sure you utilize the exam after each rotation. There is no acceptable reason for students who completed the program to be denied their degree and sit for boards. Help my classmates and those others who completed the program succeed. Don't just kick them out of the program with no assistance. They deserve more respect and consideration than that.
I wish the faculty with stick up to their administrators. Some have agreed with me. But yet, they won't tell adminstration because they don't want to lose their jobs. I understand that, but under the same breath, they have their license... they can find another job almost anywhere. I have a job that I recenty started and I am speaking up. Why? Because its the right thing to do. Most of my classmates have been license practical nurses for several years who received excellent references from physcians and their hospital CEOs. I don't question their competencies with that type of resume. I have even created a petition at my hospital. Most have never heard of anything like this. When I start to show tangible facts, the average words were ... FURIOUS. One manager suggested not to approve the school to use as their clinical site and she is going to write the administration a letter. She knew most of my classmates, when we were assigned on her unit. She knew how hard and eager we were to learn. Therefore, she has had personal experience with myself and classmates.
Where is the compassion? Where is the intergrity?
I guess this is one of those situations that if it doesn't affect me, why bother? In less than 3 years we will need 2 million nurses. Will it affect you and or your family then?
Let NCLEX determine if my classmates are competent enough to be safe nurses. Not some probabiltiy exam that determines if you will pass NCLEX the first time around. HESI in NOT a competency exam, it does NOT adapt to your level of skills/knowlege like NCLEX does.
Thanks for letting me vent. Whew... I am tired now.
I know it seems like I wrote a novel, but I was so into it.
I found this statement in the Nursing Faculty section. I thought I may remind some adminstrators and or nursing educators. I am not trying to be a smart butt. But....
Nurse educators are responsible for creating an environment in classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings that facilitate student learning and the achievement of desired cognitive, affective, and psychomotor outcomes. Recognizing their responsibility for helping students develop as nurses, Nurse Educators integrate the values and behaviors expected of those who fulfill that role by utilizing a variety of strategies to assess and evaluate student learning. Nurse educators also formulate program outcomes, design curricula that reflect contemporary health care trends, prepare graduates to function effectively in the health care environment as well as create a preferred future for nursing education and nursing practice all the while staying knowledgeable about the educational environment within which they practice and recognize how political, institutional, social and economic forces impact their role.
Maybe some adminstration or nursing instructors are not aware, maybe some don't care, and some are afraid of losing their jobs. Don't know. Maybe its all of the above.
I do know one thing, this topic is so taboo hardly any of the big shots want to talk about it. Money is power. You know the kind of money my classmates who successfully completed the nursing program wish they had.
My classmates who are mostly single mothers, who went to school, and had a job, some had more than one job. Struggling to pay for food, and their children's needs, and now a student loan but no degree and license to show for it. All because the school wants more money funded by the state. The more money the school gets from the state by stating 90% and higher for first time test taker of NCLEX and tuition money from the students, the more money the big shots get in their pockets.
Why use a probability exam to punish the students? Because the school needs a for sure thing that they will recieve money. And with the use of HESI, the faculty don't have to work so hard, they don't get the blame, the students does. What more can you ask for? Guaranteed money in your pocket and guaranteed good pension plan?
You would think as an instructor that you would care somewhat for the students you taught. I know the students thought highly of ours. Until, when it came time to step up to the plate and speak up.
What ever happened to morals, compassion, most of all intergrity?
What can we do to at least get Hesi from keeping us from graduating?? Some schools require it to graduate some do not. My school requires it to graduate in which I hate, i've worked to hard and long for one test that is not the NCLEX to keep me from fulfilling my dream and calling to be an RN. WHen I asked people do they want to start a petition they get scared b/c they don't want to not graduate or whatever. I saw if we had enough people who passed and didn't pass or haven't even taken it yet, teachers, clinical instructors etc. we could get this HESI thing put out. But once again do to the lack of courage we have to take it and pass or not pass...... What are we to do?? WHy are people so scared to make their voice heard about something that effects them, friends, family etc.?? this really angers me people complain and complain but yet will roll with the punches just not to step on any toes. Anyone want to start a petition or is willing to go against HESI? If so we need to come up with a plan soon.
Schools use Hesi in a lot of ways and I don't agree that you shouldn't graduate but you can pass Hesi. I know the anxiety is focused on that test, which you describe as a deal-breaker, but you can pass.
It will prepare you for nclex because you'll be studying for both. The Hesi is not undoable.
My school claimed to mandate a 900 to pass as an exit exam but they slid people through. It's to your benefit to study and pass. So, just focus on that right now. Passing.
I know this is a little old, but hopefully someone can answer a question for me. I am doing prereq's now, and before I could even start those I had to do an orientation for ADN. In that orientation, we were told the HESI would be given before acceptance into the ADN program, so to me, that says it's definitely a probability test, but they never mentioned we'd ever take it again, and I will definitely ask my advisor Monday. By the way, this is a community college who has a 96% pass rate for NCLEX, and not only that, they have highest scores in the area of the students who pass.
So am I totally misunderstanding this, as our school has it as an "entrance" exam, before any Nursing I-IV, etc., and I happen to be doing all my co-/prereq's first, but in reality, most these students are only taking the required prereq's of Nutrition, A&P I, Algebra, Psychology, English -- that is it, that's all that's required before applying to ADN and taking the HESI, so obviously no one is going to do well if it has NCLEX questions?? I was told by more than one school it was just basic (college leve) material for the HESI and of course used for probability since NO ONE has had nursing classes before taking this?
Am I totally misunderstanding the content of this test?
Am I totally misunderstanding the content of this test?
Yes, you are. The entrance HESI is not the same as the exit HESI. You should have learned everything you need for the entrance HESI through your pre-reqs. This should cover A&P, nutrition, math, bio, etc.
Our meds publishing reviewer told us that Hesi is used for the school's accreditation. I don't know how all this works but that's what we were told. Hesi can be used outside of its intended use.
My neighbor went to the same college I did and it appears that her class was the last one who didn't have to do Hesi. She said a large percentage of her class didn't pass nclex and thus, the college was put on probation. It appears this is when Hesi came in. I guess Hesi is a program that is an attempt to measure the predictability of passing nclex but apparently, it's also used for accreditation.
I personally think anyone who does the college work deserves their degree but our college portrays the bar being kept up high on Hesi, wanting a 900, and students can keep taking the Hesi. However, they have let the majority (who did not make 900's) pass through after a meeting with the Asst. Dean and 3 Hesi attempts. The Asst. Dean reportedly advised students to get on anti-anxiety meds to help their test-taking (which I think is out of line), and how to approach studying for NCLEX. They were also quizzed on the spot on random questions. Only 5 of us tested in our class and it will be very interesting to test the predictability model of the Hesi.
When it's all said and done, I seem to do fairly well on CAT tests even though I don't like them. But the real anxiety is a program that has a make-or-break test at the end of it, both in Hesi and in NCLEX. I don't have any interest in a Master's program with the same finale for this reason. Enough is enough.
It felt really good to get the Hesi score the school wanted and to pass NCLEX. I did everything the school asked of me but I studied my butt off to get there. Many of the students in my class whined about not passing Hesi but when I asked how they prepared for it, they didn't study the Hesi book, they didn't do practice questions, and they didn't have a plan on how to approach it - some even mocked it, "oh, that Hesi book's boring, I'm not going to study that". Well, guess what, it was a pain but I did study it and I did pass. What do you want me to say?!!
Thanks for clearing that up, I didn't know there were two. If they teach it, I can learn it.
I'm taking microb too before applying so maybe it will be easier (they acutally recommend everybody take A&P II before applying but not required, and I'm taking that too first).
I feel sorry for these students who worked so hard and can't get their degree, but on the other hand, when I'm in the hands of a nurse, I'd like to know they passed ALL of their exams, even if not on the first try, but that they knew what they needed to know to get through to be an RN.
I'll see what my school requires just to be aware ahead of time, but where I live, it's the only school anyway, the other doesn't have transferrable credits after talking to two universities to go on for BSN. This community college is my only choice, but at least I will be well aware what the requirements are, as I will do whatever it takes but would love a heads up.
I am so sorry for all of you going through this HESI "thing" and not being able to sit for NCLEX, etc., keeping fighting -- or studying, don't know how many times each school lets you take it, but look how hard you have worked!!! Don't give up!!!
According to HESI Scoring if you receive the below scores, it predicts by percentage if you will pass the NCLEX RN examination the first time
Greater than 900 predicts 98.3% that you will pass NCLEX the first time
850-899 predicts 94.8%
800-849 89.18%
700-799 76.28%
less than 699 49.1%
This is what the colleges are looking for. They want basically a guarantee that you will pass the NCLEX examination the first time. So, the program can continue to have their accrediation and continued funding from other sources. They do not care if you successfully completed the program, or waste your money, or any other sacrifices you've made. It's all about the program and not the student. It doesn't matter that you accumulated all those non tranferrable nursing credits, and you don't have a degree or license to show for it. The accountability is on the student and student alone.
The difference between the HESI exam and NCLEX.
HESI Exit exam is designed to determine students readiness, for the NCLEX Exam. Thats verbatim from HESI themselves. Also, verbatim from HESI is that faculty must be held accountable.
NCLEX examinations are designed to test the knowledge, skills and abilities essential to the safe and effective practice of nursing at the entry-level. That is verbatim from NCSBN.
Again, I want to state that I do not have any quarrel over the use of a standarized exam. As long as it is with good intentions, helping the students and the nursing curriculum.
I would like to answer one question here that was posted. Why don't anyone stick up for what is right? My only answer to that is "I don't know, I have been trying to figure out that very same question."
It could be, well I was in that boat but now I am not, and so what. Or it doesn't affect me. It could be because they don't want to be embarrased.
When you or anyone else finds the answer to that question please let me know.
I have been contributing financially, for the cause of an attorney for a few of my classmates. That's the least I can do. I can't understand, how some classmates who are nurses now have abandon their classmates. Don't you think your classmates feel betrayed and abandon already by your school? Doesn't spending three or four years with your classmates mean anything? Where is the loyalty, and honor there.
One of my classmates have attempted suicide because of all this. She felt ashamed, and felt a sense of loss. She's seeking a counselor, but that goes to you show how horrible this has all been.
I will continue to support anyone who wants this mental abuse to end. Its unfair for any school to categorize you as not good enough. You completed the program, use the HESI as a learning tool, and take state boards. Do you think all those other nurses in 1970's or 80's who didn't use HESI are inept? What about the physicians who have no such requirement? Should we have them take HESI?
Isn't is a no brainer that if more than 50% of your students who completed the nursing program failed HESI that would mirror the nursing curriculum?
student4life08
4 Posts
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Unfortunately, I have no good news for you. After 4 attempts at the Hesi Exit still needing a 900 to pass, I still only made an 865. The Chair of my nursing program has washed her hands with me. I was told, to either change my major or go to another nursing program. Can you even believe that? I'm completely devastated. I have worked my whole life for this. I stuck it out to get into my program that is nearly impossible to get into and I've completed every course requirement, the only thing standing in the way between me and my degree and the chance to take the NCLEX is this Hesi Exit score.
I also can't believe they are just throwing me out the door like this. No concern, no help, absolutely nothing. I'm very angry and hurt. These were my "caring" faculty who saw me through the program and now to turn their backs on me for what? To look good to the National Accreditation Board that that all of their students are passing the NCLEX, but guess what they aren't more than half my class hasn't even taken the NCLEX and they have been out of school since May 10th. What is 35 more points really going to mean as far as the probability of me passing the NCLEX? Are you kidding me? I wish I could get a lawyer, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Does anyone know of any ideas?