Failed. :(

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I took my HESI A2 for entrance into my school's ADN program and was knocked out of eligibility. I failed the math portion and was 6 points away from the cutoff. I am still really mad at myself. I know it's silly, but it was a huge blow to my confidence. Can I even really do this? I don't know where to go from here. I have been thinking about applying to both the ADN and BSN program... sort of knocking on both doors and seeing who lets me in first.

For the ADN, I can't test again until the spring, and IF I pass my second try I wouldn't be able to start until fall of next year. When I try again in the spring, that is my last attempt allowed. Talk about pressure. Hopefully by that point I'll be a little more comfortable with dimensional analysis- that was the hardest part for me.

Before I had declared ADN, I had debated applying for my school's BSN program as well, just because a BSN is increasingly preferred in the job market. The thing is, I have at least another semester of pre reqs before I can apply to the BSN program, and the BSN program is MUCH more competitive.

In either case, assuming I get in to either of them, I'm knocked out for a year.

I'm just frustrated and feeling sorry for myself. I have a one year old and want to get to work like yesterday. I already had to take two years away from school once I had him and I had hoped on working my butt off and just breezing straight through it all. I wasn't prepared for a setback.

Help? Advice? Kind words?

Thanks.

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Specializes in Maternal Child, Home Health, Med/Surg.

I would look at some review material and take the test again. Did you have metric conversions down well enough, or fractions? Was there some aspect that you did more poorly on than others? If so, I'd use this time to refresh and reflect. Use Kahn academy, buy a book if you want to, or just study with free online materials.

I wouldn't give up yet though.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Please push ahead for your BSN. It is rapidly becoming the basic requirement for acute care nursing. Without it, you may be limited to working in non-acute (long term care, clinics, home care, etc) settings.

I know how disappointed you must be. Best of luck on moving ahead.

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I think it's BS that any school makes you take TEAS or ATI tests before applying to nursing school. I live in northwest Ohio and the BSN program I applied for for spring 2014 only requires the pre-reqs as normal and a 3.0. Obviously nobody gets in with just a 3.0. All the other schools around here require the TEAS test as well. I just think it's dumb, because a pre-entrance test can not determine if you will be a good skillful nurse! Sorry for you not passing your test, but my advice to you is apply to both! What have you got to lose? You're not alone with thinking that you're not cut out for this, because every day that I wait for my acceptance/denial letter, I keep thinking how happy I'll be to get accepted, but also super nervous!! I think about all the stuff I'll need to learn & sometimes wonder if I can make it. Good luck in whichever decision you make, but if this is what you really want to do, you will be fine! :)

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Thank you so much to everyone for all your ideas. I'm thinking I'll go ahead with applying to both programs. Either way, I'll still have a semester of more nursing-related prerequisites. And if they get me into the BSN, that's even more awesome.

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I have the HESI A2 study guide that I can mail to you for free if you'd like. You commented on my post before :) I studied only the math section in the study guide and passed with an 88% in math on the A2 and it was EXACTLY like the study guide. I say you take this year off and get all of your pre reqs done and reapply. Good luck. If you need anything let me know!!

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I have the HESI A2 study guide that I can mail to you for free if you'd like. You commented on my post before :) I studied only the math section in the study guide and passed with an 88% in math on the A2 and it was EXACTLY like the study guide. I say you take this year off and get all of your pre reqs done and reapply. Good luck. If you need anything let me know!!

I think I saw you! Do you want to meet up on campus? And are you sure you wouldn't rather me pay you for it? Lol.

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I think I saw you! Do you want to meet up on campus? And are you sure you wouldn't rather me pay you for it? Lol.

Really? I took mine the second to last date that it could be taken. I live in Lexington so I'm rarely in Richmond but if you'd want to meet up on a weekend so I can give it to you then that would work. And yeah I'm sure! :)

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Really? I took mine the second to last date that it could be taken. I live in Lexington so I'm rarely in Richmond but if you'd want to meet up on a weekend so I can give it to you then that would work. And yeah I'm sure! :)

Just kidding, haha I took it the 28th. I'm not sure the next time I'll be in Lex but I will hit you up on here when I know. :) Thank you so much!

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Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

Take those prereqs for the BSN while you wait. It certainly won't hurt you and you can put your time to good use. I recommend going for BSN even though I'm going to a CC. I am bridging immediately upon graduation. There are just so many more job opportunities.

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Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.
I think it's BS that any school makes you take TEAS or ATI tests before applying to nursing school. I live in northwest Ohio and the BSN program I applied for for spring 2014 only requires the pre-reqs as normal and a 3.0. Obviously nobody gets in with just a 3.0. All the other schools around here require the TEAS test as well. I just think it's dumb, because a pre-entrance test can not determine if you will be a good skillful nurse! Sorry for you not passing your test, but my advice to you is apply to both! What have you got to lose? You're not alone with thinking that you're not cut out for this, because every day that I wait for my acceptance/denial letter, I keep thinking how happy I'll be to get accepted, but also super nervous!! I think about all the stuff I'll need to learn & sometimes wonder if I can make it. Good luck in whichever decision you make, but if this is what you really want to do, you will be fine! :)

Since most programs require college level math as a pre req, I don't see what the harm in the TEAS and HESI are since the math in them is below college level. Nursing programs don't want to admit students without the basic math and English skills to succeed. Seeing as basic math will be needed for medications and English for charting and such, it makes total sense to require them, Their perpose is not to gauge how good of a nurse you'll be, its to make sure you have the basic knowledge you will need to succeed in the courses and as a professional. It is also used for ranking. A lot of students go into the program with 3.8 or higher. The assessment rants the GPA into a competitive order.

That being said, OP GL on your next test and I agree, apply for both. If you get accepted into both then you just get to choose, but if you get accepted into one and not the other, you'll be glad you gave yourself the best chance possible. During this next semester, take a college level math class. Even if you already have. It will help you brush up on the math in the HESI to give you a better chance at passing with a good score. To be competitive you will want to score higher than just the cutoff. And for the English section, just read some books. Sounds simple and dumb, but your vocabulary and understanding of the English language will increase much more if you read some interesting college level books instead of boring study books. Unless study books are more your forte, then go that route. Either way, study up and you can do this. Don't let anxiety and the need to start ASAP get in your way. Just focus on one thing at a time.

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Thanks again, everyone! :)

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