Does your school say you to pass the HESI to get your degree?

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · May 10, 2008

I really do not know much about HESI except that it is meant to be an indicator of NCLEX success (and that nobody looks forward to it). We do not use it where I teach. However, I was informed that it can not be used as an indicator of graduating from school. I do not know if this is a state regulation (my guess is that it is), so you would need to check with your state Ed. dept or BON. My direcot stated it can be worth no more than 10% of your grade.

Having said that, and if your school is premitted to hold this over your head for graduation, then you have one option: study your butt off. Again, this is an indicator of how you will do on NCLEX. My guess is that by studying for this, you will inturn be preparing yourself for NCLEX. If you were not required to take this exam (or did poorly on iit, yet were still permitted to graduate), my guess is you'd probably fail NCLEX anyway. So your career would be put on hold, right?

Jolie, BSN · May 10, 2008

I question the legality of your school's change in policy.

It has always been my understanding that a college catalog constituted a contract between the institution and student. It spells out the requirements for graduaton within each major course of study at the time the student enrolls. As long as the student stays "on target" for graduation, passing each class in its proper sequence and in the expected time frame, I don't believe the institution is legally allowed to change the requirements for current students. Changes in the curriculum, grading scale, course or test requirements may be noted in the catalog and applied to subsequent classes of newly-enrolled students or students who fall behind their expected graduation class, but not enforced unilaterally to current, "on-target" students. That raises another issue that I've seen raised here: schools which literally "force" their students to sign a form "agreeing" to a curriculum change, like HESI, or be dropped from the program. That is the equivalent of a unilateral decree, not an agreement.

The problem with HESI and other exit exams is that schools unjustly withhold diplomas and degrees earned by candidates who have successfully completed the theory and clinical components of the nursing program. There is no state BON that requires a passing score on HESI in order to sit for NCLEX, so this is simply an artificial barrier imposed by schools to improve their NCLEX pass rates, something no school should fear if they are adequately preparing their students. A school that has a problem with NCLEX pass rates needs to examine its curiculum, not deny degrees that candidates have earned and prevent qualified candidates from taking NCLEX.

NoviceRN10 · May 10, 2008

Are you sure that is really the new criteria to graduate? At my college you are required to take the exit Hesi and pass it before they will allow you to sit for the NCLEX, but they would not deny you a degree if you earned it. If you don't pass the HESI my school requires that you take a NCLEX prep course before they will let you sit for the boards. This keeps their NCLEX pass rate very high.

MB37 · May 10, 2008

We have to take HESI and pass with >850 to pass preceptorship, although they give us three tries. We knew this from orientation first semester, and only a tiny percentage of people fail either the HESI or the NCLEX - it varies from semester to semester, but last semester no one failed the HESI by their 3rd try and the NCLEX pass rate was 100%. My school has a lot of problems, but failing to educate us isn't one of them. I'm not particularly worried - we also take a HESI in each core subject, and most people I know score >90% on them regularly. However, this policy was in place before I got here, and even though instructors are no longer allowed to "preview" the test, ours know what areas HESI usually tests on and can prepare us for them to some extent.

I do think it's a little crappy that you haven't known this from the beginning, but unless you really want to go out and hire a lawyer, studying is probably the best use of your time. You don't have to know every detail, but you will have to be really comfortable with NCLEX-style questions. I'm surprised only 25% of students from your school are currently passing, unless there is no incentive to prepare since there aren't any consequences attached to failure. I take my final HESI in July, and I certainly hope I pass on my first try, I'm sure I'll post a few more times between now and then about how I'm prepping for it.

If I were you, I'd start preparing ASAP. HESI puts out a decent review book that doesn't contain any multiple choice questions, and they have some material with questions you cn purchase separately. Their products are expensive, unfortunately, so I only have their review book - I keep doing well, so I didn't think I needed the extra ones. If you don't already practice NCLEX style questions regularly, now would be a good time to start. All of our exams are in that format, so I'm already used to it, but I know some schools do things differently.

Jolie, BSN · May 10, 2008

Are you sure that is really the new criteria to graduate? At my college you are required to take the exit Hesi and pass it before they will allow you to sit for the NCLEX, but they would not deny you a degree if you earned it. If you don't pass the HESI my school requires that you take a NCLEX prep course before they will let you sit for the boards. This keeps their NCLEX pass rate very high.

Their NCLEX pass rate would likely be high, regardless of HESI or NCLEX reviews. The overall pass rate for 1st time candidates is >80%, regardless of the school attended, HESI score, or whether the candidate took an NCLEX review.

The policy on HESI (or other exit exams) varies by school. Some require non-passers to take an NCLEX review. Others fail the students outright, refusing them their diploma/degree, which makes them ineligible to sit for boards, despite having successfully completing the nursing curriculum. That is why I get so passionate about this topic. Can you imagine spending 4 years and going tens of thousands of dollars in debt, only to be denied a college degree and the opportunity to become licensed because of a meaningless test? It's bad enough for students who enrolled in nursing school fully aware of this far-off requirement. But for a school to unilaterally impose this requirement on existing students is criminal, IMO.

ADNOLOL08 · May 11, 2008

I think that's absolutely ridiculous. As mentioned before, the HESI is an indicator of NCLEX success, though I've heard from some that the two tests are somewhat different.

We do take the HESI at my school, but only take one; at the end of our last semester. We have to make an 850 or higher to pass it. If we do not pass it the first time, then we are required to remediate by going online, completing the review material required, and turning it in to the faculty of the school. I find this to be a much better way of handling the situation of a possible failure. One can review their weak areas and not have the threat of possibly not graduating hanging over their head.

bittycrumblesRN · May 11, 2008

I go to Wright State too! I heard about that this week. I graduate next year in June. They're getting rid of the ERIs after this quarter. I think I would rather take the ERIs than the HESI. I really don't want to get this far and then not graduate because of one test that we aren't really prepared for.

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · May 11, 2008

Let me be honest. We had to pass the HESI with a 850...and were aware of it last fall, when it changed. The school had us sign addedum contracts to our student handbook saying that we understood the changes...legally.

the class of 2007? did NOT have to pass the HESI, if they didn't get the 850...they just had to a take a review course.....but the NCLEX pass rate went way down....

My advice? You SHOULD be doing Nclex questions throughout your last semester....at least 100 every 2-3 days! I'll be honest...after taking exams for 3 weeks, everyday with saunder's...I was MORE than ready for the HESI.....passed with a 922.

If you haven't had to sign anything yet....see what your handbook says. They can't make it stick if you haven't signed anything.

KBoo · May 11, 2008

I question the legality of your school's change in policy.
It has always been my understanding that a college catalog constituted a contract between the institution and student. It spells out the requirements for graduaton within each major course of study at the time the student enrolls. As long as the student stays "on target" for graduation, passing each class in its proper sequence and in the expected time frame, I don't believe the institution is legally allowed to change the requirements for current students. Changes in the curriculum, grading scale, course or test requirements may be noted in the catalog and applied to subsequent classes of newly-enrolled students or students who fall behind their expected graduation class, but not enforced unilaterally to current, "on-target" students. That raises another issue that I've seen raised here: schools which literally "force" their students to sign a form "agreeing" to a curriculum change, like HESI, or be dropped from the program. That is the equivalent of a unilateral decree, not an agreement.
The problem with HESI and other exit exams is that schools unjustly withhold diplomas and degrees earned by candidates who have successfully completed the theory and clinical components of the nursing program. There is no state BON that requires a passing score on HESI in order to sit for NCLEX, so this is simply an artificial barrier imposed by schools to improve their NCLEX pass rates, something no school should fear if they are adequately preparing their students. A school that has a problem with NCLEX pass rates needs to examine its curiculum, not deny degrees that candidates have earned and prevent qualified candidates from taking NCLEX.

Wow, we are right on the same page here! I really feel like they are doing this b/c the NCLEX pass rate has been going down and they could loose their accrediation. And thats bull....teach us better and we will know more. We are taking this to a lawyer to see if its legal. We are not a class to mess around with; we don't take these kinds of things laying down! That's what will make us such great nurses :)

KBoo · May 11, 2008

I really do not know much about HESI except that it is meant to be an indicator of NCLEX success (and that nobody looks forward to it). We do not use it where I teach. However, I was informed that it can not be used as an indicator of graduating from school. I do not know if this is a state regulation (my guess is that it is), so you would need to check with your state Ed. dept or BON. My direcot stated it can be worth no more than 10% of your grade.
Having said that, and if your school is premitted to hold this over your head for graduation, then you have one option: study your butt off. Again, this is an indicator of how you will do on NCLEX. My guess is that by studying for this, you will inturn be preparing yourself for NCLEX. If you were not required to take this exam (or did poorly on iit, yet were still permitted to graduate), my guess is you'd probably fail NCLEX anyway. So your career would be put on hold, right?

Yes, not passing the NCLEX would put us back. But we all just feel so cheated by this sudden decision. If they were really doing this to help us, it would be different. But the feeling is that this is being because their NCLEX pass rate is going down. The answer is not to make us take a test and weed ppl out. They need to look at the cirriculum and see what can be made better, and I have a laundry list if they want any suggestions!!

Thanks for your input on looking into the Ohio BON. I will definatly be looking into this!

We will be studying like crazy for the next couple months. I just found out there is a HESI review book, so we will use this in combo with the NCLEX review book! Lets hope all our work pays off!

KBoo · May 11, 2008

Are you sure that is really the new criteria to graduate? At my college you are required to take the exit Hesi and pass it before they will allow you to sit for the NCLEX, but they would not deny you a degree if you earned it. If you don't pass the HESI my school requires that you take a NCLEX prep course before they will let you sit for the boards. This keeps their NCLEX pass rate very high.

Oooohh yeah unfortunatly we are sure. Our assistant dean (who none of us can stand!) expalined it to us. We take a mandatory NCLEX review class our last quarter, and I would think that would help, but apparently that's not good enough.

Maybe we should be looking at the curriculum instead huh?!