HESI study tips

RNMeg · Jul 21, 2010

I used NCLEX review books, like NCLEX-RN for Dummies, to study for the HESI. I passed all of mine. Any NCLEX review book that makes sense or is formatted in a way you can easily navigate should help. Good luck! :twocents:

VRN-RN · Jul 21, 2010

Hi all! Any tips or suggestions on how to study for the HESI exams? They are rather awful, and the companion book and CD the the EVOLVE corporation puts out to study for it is useless....

owee HESI.. there's something i thought i would never hear again.. One thing i noticed about HESI is that it doesn't matter how much you know... its how well you are with taking tests. Like me... i knew my materials... but had hard time getting passed because it was how HESI had worded things. I took my exit HESI 5 times! Took NCLEX 1time and passed.

Here are my tips...

When you study don't study too long..don't cram stuff. Make a plan on how and what your going to study. Make one day Med-Surg etc...

When your taking the test.. pick out keywords from the stem.. then look to see if there are words that are relating to or pointing to those keywords in the answer..

lets see if i can get this correct.... when you see priority think assessment.. nursing process...

when you see initial think of safety..

I have to tell you... NEVER CHANGE YOUR ANSWER! i mean it...DON'T SECOND GUESS...(which is why i was having a hard time passing, when i reviewed my results, 95% of the time my initial choice was correct)

Use process of elimination- that helped me big time.

hope this helps..

cbwcm8 · Jul 21, 2010

Aww Hesi!! I agree with VRN, Hesi for the most part tests your test taking skills, its almost guaranteed to ask u questions about subjects you have NEVER heard of...The best way to improve test taking skills is QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS. I studied for Hesi like NCLEX. I used primarily Saunders Comprehensive Review disk, I actually seen questions similar to those. While doing questions, if i came up with a concept I never heard of then I would review content in the actually book and do HESI hints for the HESI evolve book...also does you school use Evolve website? They have case studies for fundamentals, med-surg, peds, etc., and the case studies actually have pictures and terms used directly in Hesi (Evolve does make the test)...that was pretty helpful!

More than anything, remain calm and read each question thoroughly...regardless of the test, some concepts remain the same and thats ABCs, Maslows, Ericksons and Safety!

Good Luck

VRN-RN · Jul 21, 2010

1. KNOW YOUR MEDICATION CALCULATIONS!!! get all your med calc questions correct!

2. Maslow's Hierarchy

3. Therapeutic Communications- very big..at least i thought so

4. Pediatrics ( age appropriate toys and communication)

5. Leadership/Delegation

6. Know what UAP and LPN can and cannot do.

7. Medications

8. If you have individual results from your classes like med-surge HESI.. look over them (trust me they help)

9. know med terms they tend to throw them in there from time to time

and i agree with cbw... practice lots and lots of questions..[/url]