HESI exit exam as a requirement to graduate from the Rhode Island College Nursing Program

[Rachel1001]

Hello, I am a nursing student at Rhode Island College in Providence, RI. I have just recently been denied graduating and receiving my degree from the RIC School of Nursing due to being unable to reach a set cut-score, or benchmark, set by the college on a Progression Policy, high-stakes, standardized comprehensive exit exam called the HESI. I made it all the way to the end of the four-year program, with honors in Sigma Theta Tau and a 3.527 GPA, just to be told that I cannot receive my degree because I didn't reach this benchmark set by the college. This is not a national exam, and in some literature, the HESI exit exam has been proven to be an inaccurate predictor of who would pass or fail the NCLEX examination. It has also been said that schools who use the HESI as a requirement to graduate from their programs are just using this measure in order to "protect their NCLEX pass rate". In my opinion, the schools should be providing a sufficient education to their students for them to be able to pass the NCLEX and not have to rely on a third-party vendor test making company to prepare its students for the NCLEX. This is an injustice being done to myself, other students at the college, and many other students throughout the country. We have all spent thousands of dollars and years of our lives devoted to these nursing programs, just to be denied our degree and graduating due one test that has nothing to do with the curriculum provided by the program. Not to mention, myself and all of my classmates were completely unaware of the HESI until we were at least half-way through the program. This sneaky, underhanded practice needs to stop, so I have attached the link to a petition that I have just started to stop the HES exit exam as a requirement to graduate from Rhode Island College's Nursing Program. Maybe if I can make a difference at my school the effects will reach other schools and we can all put an end to this problem. We all deserve a chance to fulfill our dreams of becoming nurses and don't deserve to be robbed of this right by these nursing programs. Thanks for reading and please help by signing my petition!! You can be anonymous, and its free!! Thanks!!!

Stop the HESI exit exam at Rhode Island College!

This is the link to the petition. Thanks for signing!!!!

Stop the HESI exit exam at Rhode Island College! Petition

[mrsboots87]

We use HESI exit every semester. It is not in our handbook or syllabus that HESI specifically is used. Just that a third party exit exam will be used. We don't use it to matriculate through the semesters though. It is just worth a percentage of our final proctored grade. So it could affect passing if you completely bomb it. But usually good scores on other tests make the HESI not matter. Our school uses it as more of a study resource. Then for 4th block (next semester yay!) if you don't pass the HESI on the first try, you are required to attend the HESI NCLEX 3 day review course that the school hosts. It is optional for everyone else. I do feel this is a more fair way to use a 3rd party exam source. However, I also understand that since it is not created directly by the school and research has shown a direct correlation between scoring over 850 or 900 to passing NCLEX in the first try, I do understand why some school use it as an exit requirement.

Also consider that not knowing specifically that HESI would be used is irrelevant. You were advised there would be an exit exam required for graduation. I'm sure that had you passed it, you wouldn't be this upset about it bein HESI.

Side note, I completely bombed the first 2 semester HESI exit exams. Luckily I do quite well on paper tests and still managed Bs in those classes. But finally in 3rd semester I kicked that HESIs butt and got a 978 on it (seriously f as my first two scores were a 560 and a 660 this was fantastic for me). I think one thing you can try to enact with your school is consistent use of the HESI throughout the program so students are more aware of how it tests. I know HESI can be quite different then what you're used to with your school nursing exams.

[strawberryluv, BSN, RN]

I am so sorry you can't get the recommended score on the HESI to graduate. That exam is a beast. I

had to take it too and thankfully exceeded the cut-off score.

I signed the petition. I hope you are able to argue your case. It is so terrible to go through years of schooling and

thousands of dollars and not to have anything to show for it.

Good luck!

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

The HESI was added as a requirement to my program as well. We were way farther than halfway through though when they tacked this on. If you didn't pass at their "set" score, you had to take remediation to their satisfaction or else they would not release you to sit for the NCLEX.

Did it suck? Kind of. But, since implementing this new twist, my school has a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX RN!!

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

I did. And I can't sign your petition. Sorry

Miiki, I'm guessing, like the majority of nurses out there, that you didn't have to take a third-party vendor progressive, high-stakes exit exam like the HESI in order to receive your degree and sit for the boards...

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

Um yeah. Don't ever do that...

All that I was aware of upon starting the program is that there would be an exit exam at the end of the program. I assumed that it was made and given by the college, since nowhere in the handbook, application, or any documentation or paperwork pertaining to the program did it state otherwise. I just think the school needs to be more transparent about the HESI being given as the exit exam, that's all. For the people out there who's school's gave the HESI exit exam, were you aware of it before your entrance into the program? It's kinda hard to just drop out of a program after years of hard work put in and thousands of dollars spent... And Mikki, I wish that they would have introduced us to the HESI in previous courses like your school did, maybe I would have known how to study for it.

[Adele_Michal7, ASN, RN]

Sorry, but what you're describing is quite common. I took HESI for a graduation requirement.

[softrbreeze]

The HESI was used as a diagnostic tool at my school as well. Those that didn't pass were offered remediation though. If your school is not working with you to help you pass this test and prepare for the NCLEX, then shame on them! A 3.5+ GPA is great but that is not indicative in and of itself that you will pass anything. It would also be grossly neglectful of them NOT to provide you with screening exams to help you prepare for the NCLEX. The NCLEX is very difficult AND costly- you do not want to have to take it multiple times.

[ScrappytheCoco]

In my program, we were required to make a set score on the HESI entrance exam to even get into the nursing portion, pass a subjective HESI at the end of each class (2-3 per quarter) with only 2 tries. If a passing HESI score was not achieved, you failed the class, even if you had a 100% average. We also had a Midcurricular HESI and an Exit HESI. We lost many students this way but our school also has a 98% NCLEX pass rate, and in my opinion, the HESI was easier than boards. I recommend the HESI Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN, you can get it inexpensively from Amazon. I used it throughout my program, only had to retake 1 HESI, and passed my Exit with an 1150. Good luck with your future endeavors.

[Rachel1001]

Thank you so much! I really do value everyone's feedback on here to put this all into perspective. Now I'll retake the course and study the way that my class mates studied, and not the way the school recommended, which did me no good. As much as I value all the comments, ones such as your make me feel at least a little bit better for a moment. Again, thank you so much!!!! :)

[Rachel1001]

That last comment was for strawberryluv, btw... lol

[Rachel1001]

Buckybadger, you are quite clever, I can see that....

[HDHRN]

I am sorry this has happened to you. I just finished my program last week and graduated on the 19th. We did have to pass the exit ATI with a 75% or higher to graduate. We are given two tries and if you fail both attempts you must retake the class. I passed on my 2nd try with an 82% But if you cannot pass the ATI how can you pass boards? My school used to have a required score of 69.9% on the exit, but decided to up it because the boards are getting harder. Good luck!