Hesi :(

solneeshka, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2009

I did not do so well on the HESI that we took half-way through the program - we had been told not to worry about studying for it, just go take it, not such great advice as it turns out! So for the exit HESI, I did study, but not a ton. What I did more than anything was a ton of practice questions from a variety of sources. I used our textbook, Saunder's, the LaCharity "Prioritization, Delegation..." book of practice questions, questions from the study guide for our text, and the HESI NCLEX prep book (used to be a HESI prep book until HESI was bought out by Evolve - this one is good because it gives review material if you want it but the questions are all on disc and are the same format as the actual HESI - helps with test anxiety!).

Now I didn't do every question in every one of these sources, not by a long shot. Mostly because I want to save them for NCLEX studying Over the course of a few days before the HESI, I did probably about 300 questions. I don't know if that sounds like a lot or a little, but trust me, it was a little. And it was painful because I got a LOT of them wrong. But going over the rationales is what really made a big difference for me on the HESI (which I rocked). I learned a ton, and it was across the board so I got a little smattering of a lot of different disease processes. I read rationales for the ones I got wrong but also for the ones I got right, so I could make sure I really understood the content of the question. Many questions led me to look things up and investigate a little more, so that's how review of the material got worked into the process. It seemed like the best way to make the most of a little study time. There was still plenty on the HESI I didn't know, but the way it's scored you can miss a bunch and still do well. It gave me great insight for how I will strategize studying for the NCLEX.

Another important point is that the non-textbook study guides all have some sort of test-taking strategy information in them. That info is very, very useful. Many times even if you don't know the right answer to a question, you can deduce it using test-taking strategies. That helped me so much. Even if I ended up getting some of those questions wrong, it kept my confidence up during the exam, I didn't freak out when faced with a question where I had no idea because I still had ways to narrow it down to feel confidence in an answer. (If you're going to get a question wrong anyway, it's better to at least *feel* like you got it right! That way you have more confidence when the next question pops up.)

Final note, if you do study this way, do NOT freak out if you find that you are missing a lot of the practice questions! As long as you are following up with the rationales, then it's information that you've learned and that you'll know for the exam.

Good luck! You are trending in the right direction, you can do this! :yeah:

Justhere, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2009

If you have any kind of NCLEX CDs that have questions you can answer.

My class had to do the ATI testing all the way through and then they sprung the HESI on us for our final test. But doing all those practice test for the ATI I think help me get ready for the HESI.

Just practice answering question. Think the questions out, remember there could be two right answer but you have to think about which one might the the more right answer.

Dani3176 · Apr 25, 2009

Our college makes us take 2 hesi's at the end of the first semester (Pharm and Nursing Fundamentals) then 1 second semester (Maternity and Pedi) then a comprehensive Med/Surg Hesi at the end of the 3rd semester. So, I feel like I have a bit of experience with this test. It may sound hokey but if possible suck on a peppermint, it's shown to increase short term memory as well as boost mood. My whole class does this before every single test and especially the Hesi. I'm not sure if you pray, if not disregard this entirely but I always pray before because I get so freaking nervous so I ask Him to calm me down and tell Him I did all I could humanly do by studying so now please just help me remember everything I read kind of bring it to mind since I'm bad about blanking out when I ge nervous. We also have to turn in practice NCLEX questions for homework. This semester they make us do 250 A WEEK with a score of 75 or better!! Our last semester we have to do 350 A WEEK with a score of 85 or better!!! It's an orange NCLEX book from Evolve at Elsevier with a cd so it is great practice. I hate having to do this many NCLEX questions a week but it definetly helps!!! Try some of these ideas...I have really awesome grades so I can't be too wrong...lol. (That is not a cocky remark I just want you to see that what I'm saying can help you.) You can do it...if you increased your score that much between tests and you still have 3 tries left I definetely would not worry. Now if you made a 150 or something I'd be scared for you!!! j/k I know you'll do it!! :yeah:

Chapis · Apr 25, 2009

hello, i'm going to take the hesi here soon, if i can get help, tips, anything to score higher and better, i would greatly appreciate it! thanks:d