This thread is not to deter anyone who is already in their specified nursing school, but to broaden the horizons for the anybody who is thinking of pursuing a nursing degree. I have just graduated with my ASN and as most know the competition for a Bachelor degree isn't too "stiff" anymore, considering most just get their BSN through an online program or even continue on at the same school as their ASN. This thread is to allow the people who are pursuing their nursing dream to relax, and take some advice from someone who has gone through the program.
If you were anything like me, you probably ended up pulling your hair out, just from the application process alone. Let me give you a little background about myself, I had attended private school my whole life, and graduated with my associates degree before pursuing a nursing degree. I had decided to go back to school a year or two after finishing my first degree (Yes, I know i am crazy) When I had realized that the nursing application was different than the other applications, i knew then, the competition was going to be extremely difficult. It isn't a secret that nursing degrees are in popular demand, but are they? Or is school just too difficult to get into. I was completely appalled by the nursing application process to just GET INTO the program. For those who are reading this, who are thinking about getting into or applying to nursing school, if you don't take anything from this article, take this... Get REAL good with taking difficult tests. In order to even be looked at or considered into the nursing program, you need to pass your TEAS v or some are required to take the HESI. I highly recommend getting the specific study guides for these exams, because they are not cheap tests to take, and the competition to get into school is becoming more difficult by the day.
After taking this exam if you pass, you then apply to the nursing program, and send out your transcripts from high school and any classes in college that you have taken that could be possibly be transferred into your intended major. But, just be aware that this too, is a "money grab" because college credits are only good for a number of years. I work alongside RN's now who have been nurses longer then I have been alive and in order for them to go on to get their bachelors degree (Before 2020) they have to retake science courses for their ASN! These women, whose experience should speak great volumes does not speak at all! Even the Community College system requires ASN nurses to retake classes from their first degree. I find this very sad and degrading to any RN because they too, have earned their title. Now, getting back on topic, once you send out your transcripts colleges review them, which they do very specifically. Most colleges have a college grading requirement, which will tell you what you need for a letter grade to get into nursing school, for my school it was an 85 or better for science classes and a 75 or better in all non science courses. Most colleges and Universities, tend to stay around this given area.
As for recommendation letters, I was required to have two, and it had to be from a superior of yours, whether work or school related, no family is allowed. I worked at a hospital for years before applying to nursing school, so getting recommendation letters was not to difficult. But, working at a hospital didn't do me much good anyway, so if you think working in a hospital will make or break their decision, think again. Most schools don't even take that into consideration, or at least ones on the East Coast didn't. Even though I had met all the requirements with flying colors, I still did not get in my first year applying. I only had one prerequisite class left to take, which I was going to take over the summer but this was not acceptable, because they required all my prerequisites to be done before applying. (Notice how I said they wanted their prerequisites done before the first nursing semester, but yet, this still did not matter because at the time i had applied, It looked like my application was incomplete over one prerequisite that I was in the process of completing over the summer.) Make sure you specify to your college when you are taking your last couple of classes so they can take this into consideration. most colleges want you to complete all of them before going into your first semester of nursing school, but like I said COMMUNICATE. The college wont communicate with you it is your responsible to communicate with them. You are just their money maker, and if you keep this in the back of your mind, you will be less apt to be played by the college system.
The good news is, once you are in, you're in. No one can take that from you but, the application process, is less than easy. Like I stated before, this thread is not to deter anyone or change anyone's mind. It is to shed light on this situation, we need to empower each other, and stick together. I wanted to write this kind of thread because I wish I had someone telling me what I am telling you, now. Nursing is not intended to be an easy major, but the nursing shortage gimmick, is a joke! It is the application process that should be reconsidered because that is what deters anyone before they actually get into school. More colleges need to be aware of their application process, and then maybe we wouldn't have such a nursing shortage!
The teas is about 150.00 dollars, which is much more expensive then the Hesi's 30.00 dollars. Which by the way, I don't know what Hesi exam you're taking but the one I took was significantly more then 30 dollars, ringing in at about 90.00 dollars.
After Googling for approximately 10 seconds, I discovered TEAS V test fees of anywhere from $45-75 for places as varied as Arizona State to Xavier University. Apparently different places charge different fees. I didn't see anything even close to $150. Where did you take it that it cost so much?
Most nursing students take their Teas up to the three times a year, any more then that is not allowed. Seeing as you did awesome on your Hesi (Which is extremely less difficult then the Teas) you should be aware that, that is 500.00 dollars out of pocket, which is 470.00 more then a 30.00 hesi exam and 120 dollars more for someone who only took it once.
I have a hard time believing that "most" nursing students took their entrance exams multiple times. (You realize "most" means more than 50% and is usually used to indicate significantly more than half.) In order to be capable of the level of work required in nursing school, the TEAS or HESI can't be a significant obstacle. If it is, then that student won't last long once the program starts. I can't for the life of me figure out why anyone capable of nursing school would have to take either test more than once, except for extreme nervous anxiety or severe illness on test day. And test anxiety like that will just continue to be an issue regardless of academic program and would need to be addressed.
Your complaint about not getting in when you had not yet taken all the required courses, after being clearly instructed that they must all be completed before applying, has already been addressed. Lack of ability/willingness to obey clear direction, and to adhere to established policies and procedures, will cause further obstacle for any potential nursing student.
Your OP really doesn't have valid information for other students, except maybe a warning to look for less expensive test fees, and to clearly understand and follow the rules for applying.
My school was a direct entry BSN, meaning that I got to transfer in to the university, declare my major to be nursing, and start taking nursing classes. No entrance exam, no paying $200 to pass go, no pulling hair out at all. This was not a for-profit school.
Also, let me contribute to the beating of this dead horse: there is no nursing shortage.
The TEAS is a joke, obviously. In all seriousness, if you passed the 8th grade the TEAS should be a breeze. If anything nursing school entrance exams should be *more* rigorous since there is definitely not a nursing shortage in any meaningful sense.
Who told you that TEAS is more difficult? Your experience is anecdotal, nothing more. Please stop generalizing, as it makes you appear incredibly foolish.
Hmm I thought the application process was cake. When I applied for colleges while still in high school (with the plan to study music, not nursing) I had to write essays, get letters of recommendation, all sorts of stuff. I spent hours preparing my application.
Actually now that I think about it, with my first school I had to apply not only to the school, but once accepted I had to apply to the music department also. I had to write another essay, get more letters of recommendation, and prepare an audition tape.
Applying to nursing school at a local vo-tech was some pages of fill-in-the-blanks, and I had to submit my transcripts to figure out what from my first two years at my other school would transfer. Same with applying to my RN-to-BSN program at a state university. The application form was simple, and I submitted transcripts from my first college and from the school I got my AAS from. Honestly in comparison to my first experience I felt like I was "signing up," rather than "applying."
Now with regards to passing entrance exams and stuff... I don't remember taking the TEAS, but remember the HESI. I do NOT remember it being difficult or ever feeling like this was going to be a hinderance.
But think about it. Would you want a nurse caring for YOU that couldn't stand up to some academic rigor, let alone had a hard time with a basic exam?
I need an advice, i got accepted to an Accelerated BSN program that will take me 2 years to complete and the cost is 25000(starting in may), on the other hand i applied to an accelerated ADN program that is in my state and would take me 12 months to complete and the cost for the entire program with books and all is 10000. I am positive that they will accept me for the program. My question is will it be wise for me to drop the accelerated bsn for the accelerated ADN. I'm looking at the money involved here. By the time i'm done with the ABSN for the entire two years, i will owe close to 37000 in student dept, whereas the Accelerated ADN i will owe close to 16000. What do you suggest i do?
Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.
I took my pre-reqs at a local community college, transferred them to the local state university, and filled out an application to get accepted into the clinical portion of my program. I had transcripts from my previous degree sent over from the other state university. I took the TEAS as part of the pre-requisite process, I finished it in about 45 minutes and got a high score on it. I also tested myself out of Spanish.
Sure it took time and paperwork, but it wasn't difficult.
Wait until you fill out the paperwork on buying a house- that will make your brain hurt.
I recently got accepted into a nursing program at a community college, and I did not find the application process to be complicated or confusing at all. Maybe it is different at other schools/universities.
I paid $81 to take the TEAS V. I only took it once, did not use a study guide, and got a very high score.
Ya, same here... I also just got accepted into my first choice nursing school... I'm glad the process is rigorous! A school in this area (which is actually a really good school), was placed on some kind of probation because less than 85% of their students were passing the NCLEX... So they added several more classes as prereqs, hoping to improve scores... however, it seems to me they would solve this problem best by making getting in much more difficult, as none of the other area schools require all those extra classes and their pass rates are in the 90's... it could also have something to do with the instruction.
AFter all that rambling, I guess my point is, OP, the application process should be difficult. And the entrance exams should be hard. If they let just anyone in... I don't even want to speculate...
I'm wondering if the OP has changed her mind (or opened it further?) regarding how all this works, now that a good assortment of people have weighed in?
Hygiene Queen
2,232 Posts
If a person is daunted by the hoops they have to jump through to get into nursing school, then maybe they shouldn't be in nursing school.
All a person has to do is to complete each requirement a step at a time.
Are there an awful lot of requirements?
Sure, but it's not rocket science.
There are millions of nurses out there.
They all jumped the hoops and got in and successfully completed the program.
The application process doesn't seem to have deterred them.
Gee whiz.