Hesi exam?

crb613, BSN, RN · Dec 31, 2005

I have taken the Hesi after every nsg class. I am not sure what you want to know. Are you in the Nsg program & if so will this be your 1st Hesi? Ours are for the most part are over what we have covered...fundamentals,pharm, psych, ob, peds, med surg....so where are you in relation to these subjects? Mine have all had 50 questions. I had always used Saunders to study with & did great on my tests until the last one. I decided to use the Hesi study cd for the med surg test....I did not pass ( had an A in med surg too)...so from now on its Saunders for me. Good luck

Hoping2b1 · Jan 1, 2006

I don't know ours is to be admitted into the nursing program so it isn't like the one you took I'm guessing. I order a study guide book I'm hoping that will help a great deal.

ByTheLake · Jan 1, 2006

Anybody care to share what the HESI exam is like if you have taken it.

We took a HESI after our last Med-Surg class (which for us is before we do pedi, ob, psych, mgmt, etc.), and since I've heard the NCLEX is Med-Surg heavy, I was glad to take something to give me a hint at how on-track I am for it. Just finished our HESI 2 weeks ago! Wahoo!

I basically studied my one and only (so far) NCLEX review book (Lippincott) for it, and did a little brushing up on EKG's. I also did a quick "most important info on most common drugs" Pharmacology review. Nothing much - the *whole* review/study I spent maybe 3 hours on. (We took HESI in the middle of final exams week and it was only 5%, other tests were 35% so it got less attention).

I felt the NCLEX review book and Pharmacology crash review were the *most* helpful. Seems like there were a LOT of drug questions on there, like antidotes, tox s/s, safe admin (doses), etc. Also, make sure your review book has those multiple-multiples on it as well, as the HESI exam now also features these horrendously difficult questions!

If you are not already a good "test taker" then please review info on how to take tests. You can increase your odds of right answers by eliminating certain answers off the bat, by reading what the question is *really* asking, etc. For example, one answer may contain 100% correct information, but not be *the* right answer because it does not directly address the actual question. Those will not trip you up if you remember to take a full minute to read the questions and answers thoroughly, and think about what is being asked of you before you pick an answer. Don't pick the "correct" info on CV if they are looking for the *relevant* info on Respiratory.

Also, the electronic format is challenging as you can't scribble on the test like you can in class, checking off the wrong answers, underlining key words, etc. (I find that helpful normally), and on the HESI, you CANNOT go back to change an answer once you click the Next button, so take your time on each and every question before moving on.

lexcourben · Jan 1, 2006

Just as an FYI...there are two different HESI exams. There's the entrance exam that is required by some schools for admission. Then there's the exit exam which is supposed to be a good indicator of your success on the NCLEX.

The school I'm applying to requires the entrance exam but I can't take it until Jan. 17th. I haven't been able to talk to anyone that has actually taken the exam. At the info session for admissions, the dean said that if you used the study guide you should be ok.

Hope that helps.

Sandy

ByTheLake · Jan 1, 2006

Thanks, Sandy! I wasn't aware that there was an entrance exam version. There's more than just the exit exam, though... we took one after completing 2 of 3 med-surg classes, another one after our last med-surg class, and will take 4 more: ob, pedi, psych, and exit before I'm done. :eek:

What sort of info does the entrance exam cover, out of curiosity? Stuff like we studied in pre-req's, like A&P, Micro, etc.?

lexcourben · Jan 1, 2006

Yikes!!! That's alot of testing. The entrance HESI has reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and math sections. Depending on the school you're applying to you may have to take the A&P or Chemistry sections as well. The school I'm applying to requires A&P. Can't wait to take it, NOT!!!! :chuckle

Sandy

smilin_gp · Jan 1, 2006

I took the HESI entrance exam, but the sections that we were given mainly had to do with reading comprehension and critical thinking (regarding prioritizing patients, etc.). It wasn't nearly as bad as the HESI tests that were given later in the program. With our school the entrance exam was just a formality after admissions, no one was turned away because of it or graded. :Melody:

crb613, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2006

I don't know ours is to be admitted into the nursing program so it isn't like the one you took I'm guessing. I order a study guide book I'm hoping that will help a great deal.

Ok I got ya now. I did not have to take the Hesi for entrance to the Nsg program..Our school used the NLN & another one that I can't think of right now. I would think your guide should help you & the test would probally be over your pre req materials. Good luck to you.

ByTheLake · Jan 1, 2006

With our school the entrance exam was just a formality after admissions, no one was turned away because of it or graded. :Melody:

Interesting. Could be used as a baseline to help them evaluate the effectiveness of the program, to see what the average *improvement* was of students overall from admission to graduation. Helps you compare even transition students (LVN/Para to RN) and direct-entry students. It's a great idea.

Our pre-req's included math & english, and in order to take those, we had to have scored a minimum something on SAT's or this state-specific college apptitude test to test into the right class or be placed in remedials. I guess the entrance HESI would have been moot at that point for our school, except as a baseline for comparisson.

LADYFLOWER · Jun 23, 2006

We took a HESI after our last Med-Surg class (which for us is before we do pedi, ob, psych, mgmt, etc.), and since I've heard the NCLEX is Med-Surg heavy, I was glad to take something to give me a hint at how on-track I am for it. Just finished our HESI 2 weeks ago! Wahoo!
I basically studied my one and only (so far) NCLEX review book (Lippincott) for it, and did a little brushing up on EKG's. I also did a quick "most important info on most common drugs" Pharmacology review. Nothing much - the *whole* review/study I spent maybe 3 hours on. (We took HESI in the middle of final exams week and it was only 5%, other tests were 35% so it got less attention).
I felt the NCLEX review book and Pharmacology crash review were the *most* helpful. Seems like there were a LOT of drug questions on there, like antidotes, tox s/s, safe admin (doses), etc. Also, make sure your review book has those multiple-multiples on it as well, as the HESI exam now also features these horrendously difficult questions!
If you are not already a good "test taker" then please review info on how to take tests. You can increase your odds of right answers by eliminating certain answers off the bat, by reading what the question is *really* asking, etc. For example, one answer may contain 100% correct information, but not be *the* right answer because it does not directly address the actual question. Those will not trip you up if you remember to take a full minute to read the questions and answers thoroughly, and think about what is being asked of you before you pick an answer. Don't pick the "correct" info on CV if they are looking for the *relevant* info on Respiratory.
Also, the electronic format is challenging as you can't scribble on the test like you can in class, checking off the wrong answers, underlining key words, etc. (I find that helpful normally), and on the HESI, you CANNOT go back to change an answer once you click the Next button, so take your time on each and every question before moving on.

Very helpful post. I'm so glad I took a peek at this thread.

jpet101 · Jun 15, 2010

Agreeed!