Help!!! Can they really do this??? Does anyone know???

smartin13 · Mar 9, 2009

Yes they can and do. In my ADN program we have to take a HESSI at the end of each quarters and at the end of our schooling. If we do not pass the final one they will not endorse us to take the NCLEX and we do not graduate. They do this so that there pass rates look much better. My school brags a 100% pass rate for last year and an average of 98%, they are a good school but they make the numbers look better by doing this.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Mar 9, 2009

My school uses ATI exams. There justification is that "what good is it to pass nursing school if you can not pass the state boards?" makes sense. If we do not pass the test we get to go through remediation and take it again. If we do not pass by the third time then our grade for the class (even if it is an A) is changed to an F. Yes they can do this. No there is no way around it. No one in my class has never not passed by the third time. We have to get at least a level 1. I have always gotten level 2 and 3. Just read the books and do the practice exams and you were going to be fine.

AnnieMae* · Mar 9, 2009

Do they give you help for passing these HESI exams?

Or are you on your own?

Part of the reason this is so shocking is that no one was warned ahead of time that these were going to be so crucial. Of course by the time my class gets to that point, I assume they will warn students about this requirement.

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Mar 9, 2009

there really is no way to fight it if's it's the school's policy. you can go complain , but they can tell just tell you to find another program if you don't like it. they may have a review class , i hope for your class. plase keep us posted.

jackson145 · Mar 9, 2009

One of the first things I learned in NS was that "They" can do whatever they want to you. It doesn't matter how ridiculous, redundant, or unfair it is.

We take ATI's, but if you don't pass, you remediate online. The first time you take it online, just answer all A's (or B's, or C's). Then when you're done, it will give you the correct answers & you retake immediately. We just have to print out our results & give them to the office.

I've only had to retake 1 so far (OB section, ugh), but this method of retesting seems to work well for my classmates.

malestudentnurse · Mar 9, 2009

I don't know why you would be upset about this unless you don't know the material. I welcome each and every opportunity to prove that I know the information that I am being held accountable for. If its something your worried about, Just study.

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2009

we always had to pass certain computer exams with a 80%...(usually 50 ? exams) Nobody ever NOT passed, unless they didn't try or waited till the last minute...instructor once had to make a 5th test just for me.

The exit HESI was different...you had to score a 850 to graduate....the school would not forward your info on to the state until you did. They said that they would fail students who took more than 3 attempts to pass, but some actually passed in august...after like 8 tries...but by that point, you just might be rethinking your career choice.

Just study, do questions, and use that nursing knowledge. Good luck!

sh1901 · Mar 9, 2009

We have to take an ATI exam each semester and pass with 95% to continue to the next semester. We also have drug calculation tests that are taken each semester, and you have to pass those with a 98% to stay in the program. You get 2 tries for each exam. If you do not pass the first time you get remediation and then you try again. If you fail the second time you have to take a semester off before attempting the semester again.

expo4u · Mar 9, 2009

Unfortunately they do this to keep accredited. It is a way to keep those students that the school has failed to teach from continuing. The state nursing boards should really get involved. A lot of schools are doing this and all it says to me is that the school is doubting its ability to complete what they promise the students. Unfortunately, until or unless the state boards get involved I doubt that anything will be done to improve the situation.

jjjoy, LPN · Mar 10, 2009

If a student has otherwise passed all the required classes, I think the student should get the degree.

If a few students pass nursing school and can't pass the NCLEX, then I see that as the students' problem, not the schools' problem. If several students each year graduate from a particular nursing school and can't pass the NCLEX, then I could see where that is more likely indicating a problem with the school. If that many almost graduated students are unlikely to pass the NCLEX, the solution isn't to fail them so they can't take the NCLEX. The solution is the revamp the program so that the problems are caught sooner and failing students either get the remediation they need or are failed out prior to finishing the entire program.

But CAN a school require that one test will determine if one graduates or not regardless of all other coursework completed? Yes, they can.

northern_RN · Mar 11, 2009

Unforunately many schools do this to keep their percentage of graduating students that pass boards up. The board of nursing in the state looks at graduating rates against passing board rates. If a school is graduating nurses that can't pass boards the board of nursing will come down on them and the program risks loosing state board of nursing approval. If that happens the program can be shut down.

Personally I don't think it is fair to have students poor blood, sweat and tears into the program and not graduate due to one test. My program had a remediation and second chance policy and ATI was not a condition of pass/fail. However one of my best friends was a fraction of a point from the 80% needed to pass a class and didn't get to graduate and take boards. Had she just scored one more right on a test or two she would have passed. It was the saddest day of my nursing school career crying with her as final grades were figured out. We went through 11 month plus of struggles, joys, and venting together in a very intense program and she didn't get to graduate with me. She had the heart of a nurse just trouble with book smarts and tests. She is one that would have had trouble passing the boards but once she did would have been a great nurse. But you have to think of it this way too, if my dad is in the hospital I would want the nurse that is able to critically think and had easily passed boards vs the sweetest nurse in the world who can't figure out what to do in a critical situation. However I do believe that personality is a huge component in nursing. In her case I think the thinking aspect of nursing ablities would have came to her with time. Also she was looking at going into LTC not acute critical situation, she knew she couldn't cut it in ICU or med/surg and had no intent of going there.