HESI question: Please Read all the way.

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Ok. My HESI scores have been as follows: (I recently just "finished" an ADN program this month

1.) 600 (I took the first one when we had three weeks left of our third semester. I admit, I was totally unprepared)

2.) 724

3.) 764

4.) 838. And this is where my question comes into play. (We took this during FINALS WEEK.)

We signed a contract to our student hand book at orientation during the summer before we started. I got a copy of the part about the Comprehensive Exit Exam (we didnt know the name of the exam at that point, or what the passing rate was.) and it states on the 5th time if the student does not pass, your grade changes from an 'I' to an 'F'. Ok.. so its in the handguide. All along, during our first and especially our second year, we hear that we get more than 5 times. We hear that we wont fail, we will just keep taking it until we pass. So here we are, a week before we graduate this month, and theyre like "well, you might as well get another attempt in before graduation, because you'll have more chances". SO, not thinking anything, we took it during busy graduation week, and there are still 17 of us who have not passed it. Now we just found out yesterday that we will be failed out of the program if we fail this next HESI. We wouldnt have taken it so close to the third attempt and during FINALS week had we have known our 5th attempt wasnt our last! I know, I know.... we signed a handguide saying we "knew" this... but all along we were told we weren't really limited to 5 attempts.

Also, we had technical problems with two of the medication administration questions during our fourth attempt (which happened to be V-1 retake... so one of the questions on V-1 was screwed too). It was a question about sliding scale insulin where the chart would not pop-up.. therefore no way to correctly answer the question. Also, another question did not give complete information and was determined that it was messed up too. I know myself, and several other students were in the mid to upper 840s, and one person even got a, no joke, 849.

IF A TEST LIKE THIS IS SUPPOSED TO DETERMINE OUR FUTURE AS NURSES, ISN'T IT WRONG THAT SOME OF US COULD POTENTIALLY PASS IF THESE QUESTIONS WERE ABLE TO BE ANSWERED?? This test is already ridiculous as it is, why should we also be having to deal with TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES on the test?

We talked to our DON, and she said "it wouldnt have mattered, those questions could be worth tenths of a point" She said it wouldn't have even mattered for the girl who was an 849. This is ridiculous. I've only seen whole number scores on HESI results.

Im not trying to be like "wah wah i didnt pass the HESI". We've taken Hurst review, we've studied our asses off. We're being hurt because of inability to PHYSICALLY ANSWER the problem. A technical difficulty. Yet our DON is "no longer entertaining questions about the exam"

Is this right? I know, some might say "well would you sue the school if you failed the NCLEX?"

THIS ISNT THE SAME THING. IM LEFT IN THE DARK, 30K IN DEBT, WITH **NO*** DEGREE. It would be different if i had a freaking degree to show for it. Now Im left with one chance, and several us could possibly pass due to these TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.

This is just so irritating and insane. Do I have a case here? Im so sorry if my post is annoying, Im just trying to get input here. It's very upsetting that people could care less.

It seems we should be rewarded a re-take, and not only that, my computer shut off at 152, so i had to wait 20 minutes while we got my test back up, then i missed 4 from 153-160. just very upsetting.

Any advice on this and who we should contact or what we should do?

Specializes in Cardiac.

You won't win. Very rarely do schools change thier mind on these things. And you probably guessed those questions correctly anyway. So then what would you do?

BTW, I never had easy questions like sliding scale on my HESI. My HESI was hard! I had some technical difficulties on my test too, like I mentioned earlier. I guess I could have fought to adjust my score as well. But, I didn't need to do so. Fact is, I didn't spend much time on allnurses when I was studying for my test/finals/HESI. And my score was high enough that I didn't need to rely on blaming my failures on technical difficulties.

Lawyer up. That is what you do. I am an RN; I was an LVN; I took the HESI to graduate LVN school, RN school and during the first semester of my transition from LVN to RN. I passed all three the first time, I have never had a problem, HOWEVER, I have a very close friend who just took the test for the 5th time and now the school is done with him. This man has been a nurse for 15 years (LVN), passed the curriculum and actually attended the pinning ceremony, as if he had passed, then because he could not pass the HESI, he could not take the NCLEX. So, he repeated "audited" the year of transition school and still has not passed. Now that he no longer has opportunities to take the test again, he will have to repeat the transition.

The problem with this test is that nursing schools are part of colleges/universities and they cannot give a test independent of an actual class (but they do) and, the assessment test should not be used as the total grade for a class. It can be part of a semester grade, even a final grade, but it cannot stand as the entire grade.

Any good lawyer will get you to the NCLEX and get your attorney fees. I am married to an attorney and we are trying to help my friend (though he has failed to take our legal advice thus far...we advised: do not take the HESI for the 5th time because upon completion AND failure of the 5th try, you lose all options). So, my advice to you is to get an attorney, read the NPA, and do not fear these teachers. I know how they are; nursing school instructors try to write their own rules, when in fact, they are regulated by the State, just like any other college courses. Demand they allow you to take the NCLEX...it is so easy. It is black and white. The HESI test is out to trick you; NCLEX is not. NCLEX is set up to determine what you know; HESI is set up to know what you know and how sure you are of yourself, do you really believe it or can you be distracted by some flashy answer choice when the actual answer is so simple.

I am not offering any legal advice, but as a fellow nurse, my opinion is to get an attorney and take on this battle for yourself and all nursing students who will follow you. If it were me, I would get an attorney, draft a letter stating what you want and why you want it, based on the law, then just wait, the school will come around.

This test is not set up to benefit the students; it is set up to benefit the school so they can say they have a high pass rate on teh NCLEX. The problem is they do not need this; students are lining up to get into nursing school, so even the schools with low success rates for the NCLEX would still have an alternates list. I am certain they get more money if their pass scores are high, after all money is the great motivator. But in the end, if the teachers do a good job, they could send their students for the NCLEX and have great nurses.

by the way, you all need to read a book called Hardwiring Excellence...great book. It will empower you in your nursing career.

VTY,

betty

We dont need people who cannot pass a test 4 times, suing to become nurses.

Specializes in OR.
We dont need people who cannot pass a test 4 times, suing to become nurses.

even if i DID bring forth a lawsuit, i still wouldn't become a nurse.

i would still have to pass the NCLEX. people who take 3-4 times to pass the nclex STILL HAVE A DEGREE TO SHOW FOR NURSING SCHOOL.

the whole point of this argument is that I DO NOT. i pass the curriculum, and yet if i fail this HESI this time, my B's and C's i received for 30+ hours of nursing school becomes Fs.

i wouldn't be able to apply anywhere to school. my gpa would be so terribly bad i would enter any school under academic probation. i know i am not this stupid.

like the previous poster said, this is a third party examination. when our instructors tell us on the first attempt "you'll probably fail it... just do your best" you know there is something terribly wrong with the way we are prepared for it and the way it is administered. there is supposed to be INSTRUCTOR DRIVEN remediation for this exam, as outlined in the professor's handbook for the administration for this test, yet we are told "you must remediate on your own" when 25% of the class is STILL taking this exam, you know something is wrong.

its ok, we've already took action. our student affairs is talking with the president of the school. we aren't letting some "pre" test hold us from our boards, which we deserve to take. thanks betty jo.

oh and bicster, life must be so rough for you that all you do is come on these forums and post negatively all the time.

and cardiacRN... our HESI was hard too.

i dont need any of you damn haters saying i cant or dont deserve to be a nurse. you dont know me, so don't pretend you do.

Specializes in Cardiac.

Sue because a person can't pass a test??? Lol. It's always got to be somebody else's fault, now doesn't it.....

lol

Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.
people who take 3-4 times to pass the nclex STILL HAVE A DEGREE TO SHOW FOR NURSING SCHOOL.

And?? A nursing degree is worthless unless one passes NCLEX. Unfortunately for you, you have to pass HESI before you can take the NCLEX...something you knew going into nursing school.

Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

What is a passing score for the HESI, I am just curious.

I hope it all works out for you.

Specializes in Telemetry.
We dont need people who cannot pass a test 4 times, suing to become nurses.

Bicster,

You do not have to be so mean to the student. I can imagine how you would talk to your patients without tact. Boy oh boy, I guess you have passed your Hesi but you need to pass the therapeutic communication class.

Specializes in Cardiac.
Bicster,

You do not have to be so mean to the student. I can imagine how you would talk to your patients without tact. Boy oh boy, I guess you have passed your Hesi but you need to pass the therapeutic communication class.

Why? Because they spoke the truth? And because you didn't like what you heard?

This isn't about informing a pt that thay have cancer, it's about preventing students who AREN"T prepared for nursing to pass because they complained loud enough.

Can't pass the test, can't be a nurse. No 'therapeutic' comminication, sugar coating, baby talk, etc needed to state that.

Specializes in OR.
Why? Because they spoke the truth? And because you didn't like what you heard?

This isn't about informing a pt that thay have cancer, it's about preventing students who AREN"T prepared for nursing to pass because they complained loud enough.

Can't pass the test, can't be a nurse. No 'therapeutic' comminication, sugar coating, baby talk, etc needed to state that.

once again, this isnt the nclex i cant pass.

as i stated, 5-7 of us could have passed this exam, but were strung up by technical difficulties during the exams.

sometimes there ARE situations that call for action, even during a test. do i not deserve a test that i can answer ALL the questions too? i put thousands of dollars into my schooling, so if this exit exam is the only thing holding me back from my career, do i not deserve a test thats error free? you seem to have not even responded to that aspect, but keep saying "that shouldnt be an issue. you arent smart enough you arent prepared"

well, sorry to say, it IS an issue. if we're being held back by a third party exam, we deserve one that we can answer all the questions too.

im sure if there was a couple of questions on the NCLEX examination that graphs didnt pop open for you to answer, then maybe it would be a bigger deal to you. ive just learned my lesson on the hesi. from now on if something happens like that, im going to refuse to take the rest of the exam.

sorry some of you are so high up on your almighty high horse that you refuse to see potential problems with the system because YOU achieved such high standards. it doesn't mean there isnt an issue at hand.

5-7 of us OBVIOUSLY were prepared if we could have reached the 850 mark on the hesi, but we're held back by technical errors. the "should have had more padding" issue is neither here or there. the issue is with the technical difficulties. we deserve a retake on the exam. there is no denying that.

sooner or later you'll tumble off your high horse, so im not worried. karma is a you know what =)

and bicster i think is still in nursing school. if so, he has a lot to learn about communication.

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

OK guys, things are getting a bit heated and a bit personal.

Each state has their own requirements when sitting the NCLEX exam, some can do it as many times as they fail where others have a limit. We know some people do have test taking problems. We should be more supportive and encouraging among each other.

Some people have to take HESI and pass before they are allowed to graduate, taking any exam is stressful at the best of times but when added factors of interference either environmental or physical should be at a minimum and if this isn't happening then the establishment really has a duty of care to get it sorted

If you are going to have debates please keep it constructive and polite and no personal attacks.

once again, this isnt the nclex i cant pass.

as i stated, 5-7 of us could have passed this exam, but were strung up by technical difficulties during the exams.

sometimes there ARE situations that call for action, even during a test. do i not deserve a test that i can answer ALL the questions too? i put thousands of dollars into my schooling, so if this exit exam is the only thing holding me back from my career, do i not deserve a test thats error free? you seem to have not even responded to that aspect, but keep saying "that shouldnt be an issue. you arent smart enough you arent prepared"

well, sorry to say, it IS an issue. if we're being held back by a third party exam, we deserve one that we can answer all the questions too.

im sure if there was a couple of questions on the NCLEX examination that graphs didnt pop open for you to answer, then maybe it would be a bigger deal to you. ive just learned my lesson on the hesi. from now on if something happens like that, im going to refuse to take the rest of the exam.

sorry some of you are so high up on your almighty high horse that you refuse to see potential problems with the system because YOU achieved such high standards. it doesn't mean there isnt an issue at hand.

5-7 of us OBVIOUSLY were prepared if we could have reached the 850 mark on the hesi, but we're held back by technical errors. the "should have had more padding" issue is neither here or there. the issue is with the technical difficulties. we deserve a retake on the exam. there is no denying that.

sooner or later you'll tumble off your high horse, so im not worried. karma is a you know what =)

and bicster i think is still in nursing school. if so, he has a lot to learn about communication.

I think what folks are trying to get across is that if you weren't so close to the pass mark, the issue of a problem on one (possibly two) of the 4 times you took your exams would never have been an issue. They're not ignoring the technical difficulty, they're just suggesting that you put yourself in a position where your fate hangs by one question. You say that this is about the fact that you've paid X amount of dollars and deserve an error free exam....but if you had passed would you be this worked up over the same technical issue?

I wish the best to you on your 5th exam.

Peace,

CuriousMe

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