My class just had 20ish ppl fail because of the HESI...

Boog'sCRRN246, RN · May 6, 2010

Oh my :eek: That is really crappy. I take the HESI in two months, but luckily, it is counted as just 5% of our final grade.

ShannonRN2010, BSN, RN · May 6, 2010

yeah...it dropped our class from a class of 62 to about 40.

Intern67 · May 6, 2010

Not sure how I feel about this. Our school has us take HESI tests as part of our grades but they are not a must-pass exam.

I would think a nursing program would be designed so a must pass exit exam would not be necessary. It is pretty darn challenging just to pass in my program; their NCLEX passing rates are always among the highest in the state - about 95%.

I suppose if a program is having problems with their NCLEX pass rates they might want to institute this policy to avoid problems. Kind of a rotten deal though.

DayDreamin ER CRNP · May 6, 2010

I'm not a fan of using the HESI as a must-pass exam to graduate. I think it is BS actually. My BFF graduated about 6 years ago from the program I'm doing now. She made "benchmark" of 850 on the other 6 HESIs throughout the program by 200+ points each time. She made an 825 on the final HESI and they said she couldn't "walk" for graduation. She made mostly As and a few Bs throughout the entire program and they tell her she couldn't walk? That's crazy!

Of course, there are people that can barely pass a class w/o cheating and miraculously hit benchmark on HESIs and they hand them a diploma. It just doesn't seem fair.

llg, PhD, RN · May 6, 2010

Don't blame the test. It is only a tool. But the blame where it belongs ... on the school that didn't adequately prepare its students for a test that they had designated as a "must pass" requirement.

Blaming the test makes the situation one in which there is no "one" to blame and nothing to be done about it. Placing the blame/responsibility on the school gives students some possibilities for action. Nothing will be done until students (and those in positions of influence in nursing) take action to prevent the mis-use of the HESI as a tool that can be helpful if used properly.

ShannonRN2010, BSN, RN · May 6, 2010

I understand the need for HESI and the reason they decided to use it, but it's kinda a rotten deal with you get told "Oh we are changing the program, you have to pass this exit exam, but pay for your pins and graduation...and if you don't like it, there's the door".

They implemented this halfway through the program. This was literally the 3rd time that my class got to take the HESI.

I know that alot of the things that one instructor taught did not match up with the Saunders or the HESI book and I think that is a major reason they have had a crappy pass rate out of there second year students.

ShannonRN2010, BSN, RN · May 6, 2010

I also want to throw in there that I used ever available resource I had to study this year, notes, Saunder NCLEX and HESI. I did my case studies, I did my CD's from the books, I used ANYTHING I could get my hands on...I think that is why I did so well on the test the first time, I didn't take for granted that we got everything we needed to know for NCLEX, from our notes and lecture...but then that is just me and I am anal about stuff like that! lol

RNTutor, BSN, RN · May 10, 2010

Don't blame the test. It is only a tool. But the blame where it belongs ... on the school that didn't adequately prepare its students for a test that they had designated as a "must pass" requirement.

I agree! If schools have difficulty with students passing an exit exam (whether it's HESI, NLN, whatever), I believe they need to continue allowing students the opportunity to retake it while at the same time being introspective about what kind of 'quality control' needs to be done to improve future pass rates. The test is not the problem, in fact there is data out there supporting the fact that these exit exams are pretty good indicators of NCLEX success.

mRpeNa · May 10, 2010

The Hesi was final exam and it was counted for 25% of our grade. We had only one person not pass and she failed by 1 question!...I also did all the case studies from evolve and studied the Hesi book and we actually had a live review for 3 days to prepare us which they gave a Hesi review book and I studied from that as well...It wasn't easy but by the grace of GOD I passed!...

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 11, 2010

I am so thankful our school doesn't do stuff like this. Our passing of failing is depended on Exams only. When we have projects worth grades you still have to get a 77% min total on exams to be eligible for those points but if you get the 77% but still do poorly you can still not pass if that makes sense.

We have NLN testing after each class but it has no bearing on our grades. My school has an excellent pass rate also without all these extra tests.

I don't think I like this, I have seen many people say they pass the school but then whatever national test they don't do well on and so then they can't graduate because I guess the school feels they won't pass NCLEX, I think if they pass the exams in and course work in the program then they should have a chance at NCLEX. It just doesn't seem right to me, I know many don't agree with my view on that, but I would hate to spend all this time and money in a program and pass it all to have trouble on this HESI thing or whatever test it is and not even have a chance at boards.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 11, 2010

I agree! If schools have difficulty with students passing an exit exam (whether it's HESI, NLN, whatever), I believe they need to continue allowing students the opportunity to retake it while at the same time being introspective about what kind of 'quality control' needs to be done to improve future pass rates. The test is not the problem, in fact there is data out there supporting the fact that these exit exams are pretty good indicators of NCLEX success.

I do agree with this, I wouldn't blame the tests themselves.