Can someone help me clear up this whole HESI test thing? So confused

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Ive been trying to research all day and Im getting nowhere. My school requires that people finishing 2nd block take the HESI exam. We are not given any kind of credit for this exam, nor does it count against us, but it is mandatory. They told us nothing about this exam. They did tell us we couldn't study for it and that there would be things on it we haven't had yet. Nothing was said about what was passing etc.

I know that at our school if you fail 3rd and 4th block, you take the HESI test and based on that score you either go back through the block you failed or even further to blocks 1 and 2. But we had all passed 2nd block and heading into 3rd block at this point.

I read on the net that a passing score for students is 850, but this seems to apply to 4th block students (or seniors for those with more than 4 blocks). So as a block 2 student is there a score I should be meeting?? How am I supposed to use the feedback from this test if I don't even know what my limits are?

I guess I could be obsessing over nothign at this point, but if Im supposed to use this to help evaluate where I sit in RN school, shouldn't there be a benchmark I should be trying to reach?

thanks in advance.

Lynn/BW

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Specializes in PMHNP, Faculty,.

Every school has different rules for the HESI. The lowest passing score I have heard of personally is a 850. At our school you must have a 900 to pass. I am not sure what you mean by block 2 - is that semester 2? Is it a particular class (ie Med Surg)? Here's how it works for us - at the end of each semester we take a HESI for that class - I just took Med Surg, and so has that HESI, next semester is L&D, etc. We must get a 900 or above each time or we will have to remediate. The percentage score of the exam is also worth 15% of our grade. At the end of the program we must pass the comprehensive HESI in order for ourr school to allow us to take the NCLEX. Hope this helps you to understand how the HESI is used elsewhere. As I don't know the rules of your school I am not sure how it will work for you, but I would just ask your professor. Good luck!

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Im sorry about the block thing. Im so used to it I forget not everyone uses it. Our program is 4 semesters that they call blocks. So I just finished up semester 2, which in our program is Well PEDs and Well OB as well as Med Surg 1.

The instructors really haven't said anything about HESI other than its used to evaluate where we are. I guess my question is if you are required to pass it between 850-900 as a student about to Graduate, where would a person halfway through the program supposed to score? There were only 110 questions and quite a few of them were on issues we haven't been taught yet.

Again maybe its something I should just let go. It doesn't affect me at this point in school. Just curious.

Lynn/Bw

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Specializes in PMHNP, Faculty,.

Oh, okay. Thanks for explaining the block thing. We are always tested on items that have not been taught on the Hesi. I am pretty sure that this is the norm. For example, on our Med Surg heis we had a lot of surgery and pharm questions about things & drugs I had never heard of. But, using the knowledge I do have, and my test taking skills I am expected to be able to do well anyway. So, even with that stuff you should be able to pass the Hesi at an 850 or 900 after taking each class. The comprehensive one at the end of our program is supposed to be quite the bear - imagine how much information we have never been taught will end uo on that!

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Specializes in NeuroICU/SICU/MICU.

Where you are in the program won't matter to your score. The HESI is put together based on the course syllabus provided by your instructor, so there shouldn't be things on there that you haven't been taught (unless they make a mistake, like they did in my Med/Surg 1 class..only 3/20 passed that one..oops). It's very similar to the NCLEX, and a score of 850 is 95% predictive that you will pass the NCLEX on the first try, which is why an 850 is generally considered passing in most nursing programs.

So to clarify..a senior/last semester student won't be taking the same HESI you'll be taking. The test is geared towards what you've been taught, and how well you can apply the nursing process.

In my experience, if you're relaxed (and if yours has no bearing on your grade at all, you should be relaxed) you'll do fine. It seems to be especially susceptible to test anxiety.

I hope my wall of text wasn't too daunting..and I hope I answered some of your questions :chuckle

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

Here is info on the HESI study guide. Check ebay first.

Evolve Reach Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination

ISBN-10: 1416047751 Edition: 2

ISBN-13: 9781416047759 Educational Level: College

Product Type: Workbook, Study

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Here is info on the HESI study guide. Check ebay first.

Evolve Reach Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination

ISBN-10: 1416047751 Edition: 2

ISBN-13: 9781416047759 Educational Level: College

Product Type: Workbook, Study

This book is awesome! Taking the HESI on Tuesday and I hope it does me some good!:yeah:

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