Failed HESI A-2 Entry Exam & not allowed a retest. Please help!

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today was my first time taking the hesi entry exam at a 2 year accredited nursing school. i passed everything but math. i didn't have any study tools, guides or anything to study from. i had a week to study.

last week i went to the college to inquire about the nursing program and i was told by a admissions staff member the test would be on 6-21-2011 at 9 am for the september enrollment. i asked for study tools/guides and she told me to google hesi. well of course i knew to google, and the search only gave me websites to buy a study guide. i could barely afford the hesi test let alone a study guide at the same or greater price. i'm unemployed. regardless i studied general basic math online , hoping to refresh my memory (its been 10 years since high school). i watched videos on youtube. that was a lot of information to try to absorb in a week, imo. i didn't get time to study any 'vocabulary' because i spent what little free time i had on math. i have a special needs child, so free time is scarce.

when i arrived for the test only 2 other individuals were there to also take the hesi. i took the entire time for the math test, and knew i would most likely get the problems pertaining to the metric system/units of measurement wrong, because i didn't know to study for those types of problems. i imagine memorizing the metric system would be difficult.

anyways after i finished the test i was the last person to get results, and i was told i made a 70% on my test. thanks to math. after the test i found out that another hesi test is being done this saturday! but was told i wouldn't be allowed to retake it because i'm not allowed to try again on the hesi until the next nursing class came available after this upcoming september class, which would be in march. that broke my heart!

of course i cried the entire way home. i just kept thinking i want this too bad to let this knock me out of starting the nursing program in september. so i go back to the college and speak to the same admissions person that i had spoke to previously and she recommend i sit down and talk to the nursing director. i do, but it serves no purpose. she told me she couldn't let me retake the test because it would be the same test. etc etc. ok i can see their point to an extent, but it's not like i memorized the questions and i surely didn't memorize the answers, because most of my answers were wrong! :crying2: i don't understand why they couldn't give me a different version if that were the real case, anyways! i just believe in my heart that i should at least have a 2nd chance to re-take the test before september enrollment so i could have the opportunity to start then! but according to them, you get one shot to start the class and thats it. the lady in admission even told me that this upcoming fall semester had a shortage of students interested in the nursing program! they had offered the tests in may too and no one showed up, forcing them to give the hesi exam again this month, and like i said only 3 showed up yesterday-counting me!

my question: is there anything i can possibility do to get a 2nd chance at this test before the new class started in september? or is it up to the school or up to the nursing admin? i'm wondering if contacting the people that created the hesi exam, could make a difference?like for an example asking them if i could retake the test at a different site, or giving me a completely new test different than the one i took could possibly be arranged? i'll do anything.i've read online that most schools give students 2 chances.i want this so much, and i hate not being gave a 2nd chance!

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Specializes in Med/ Surg/ Telemetry, Public Health.

Each school is different, at my schooll we have ATI and if you fail then you can retest every three months. They probally won't let you retake until March,because your testing date is in the computer system and when you try to retest before that date the Computer won't let you register again before that time. I am sorry that you messed up on math, I did on my first test I am no good at algebra, I ended up taking a algebra class. I then went back and took the test and passed the math section. I was like you I have been out of high school for some time now. Look there is no need of crying over spoiled milk(lol I cried too when I failed) Just suck it up and get a tutor or take a refresher math course, before you retest. Or maybe you could apply to another school, don't put all your eggs in one basket. If you really want to get into the nursing program you have to get through this phase at all cost. Instead of thinking negative think positive, no one is perfect the way I see it not everyone gets to the finish line at the the same time, you will get there in due time. Good luck!

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Is there another school you would like to consider? Can you take general courses until you are eligible for re-testing?

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I borrowed my Hesi study guide from the library for free! I would check into that as I found it very useful - I got over a 90% cumulative and a 100% on math because of it!

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Specializes in Infusion.

So this is a huge disappointment for you when you inquired about the program for the first time last week. I'm not sure what to say. I think it is excellent advice to both take some of your general ed classes now, study for the HESI using a guide that is borrowed. If this is a "for profit" school, you will have another chance.

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Do not let this stop you. Think of it as time to cement your skills and knowledge. I know that darned book is expensive...but I hate to admit, it REALLY helped. I too had been out of school for about 10 years. Like another poster said, maybe check with your library? And good luck! Do NOT let one "boo boo" stop you from pursuing what you want! *hugs and prayers to you*

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No offense intended but if you aren't ready for the hesi I wouldn't think you'll be ready for a nursing program so soon either. The same challenges that prevented you from doing well on the hesi will still exist in the fall. In my opinion you should spend the next term preparing for the hesi and nursing school in general. As for getting another shot at the test for fall placement - I don't think it's likely. Most programs have similar requirements. Focus on spring and buckle down. Best wishes.

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By the way - I got the hesi study guide used off of amazon for $10.

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Each school is different and you have to go by their rules, sorry. It sounds like you were not ready, I would just study and try again.

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I would take a second look at everything. The math on the Hesi is very simple compared to the math in nursing school. Like I said, I barely studied for it and got well over a 90% cumulative. I thought it was very very elementary. We also had two nursing courses as prerequisites. The second one included a lot of nursing skills and many students failed it once or twice. Again, I found it to be an easy A. Now that I am in nursing school, WOW. It makes the pre-nursing stuff look like 1st grade and nursing school look like college. I am being very challenged and having to work really hard to keep the mostly As and a few Bs I am getting. Most students that have failed out didn't rock the prerequisite courses and tests.

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Sadly, I don't think that you will be able to start in the Fall. BUT- you can use that time to take science classes at community college you'll need like Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology and maybe ones like Human Growth and Development, Diversity, etc. Check to make sure that they will transfer to the nursing school!! GOOD LUCK!!

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Specializes in CVICU, CCU, MICU.

I bought a HESI prep book and it helped me out with the math. There was so much I forgot since school ended and it helped refresh my mind. I went through that book everyday for a month and did fine on the test. Is there another school you can apply to that you have to take another test for? For instance a school that takes the TEAS or the NLN PAX? If so I would apply there and study hard for the tests. I had to wait a year longer than I wanted to, to get into nursing school. It was devastating at first but the next year applying I felt more prepared. Keep with it and it will happen.

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