Passing the Hesi

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Just passed my Hesi examination, and from what I have researched and observed about the whole process, I'm not the only one who had trouble with it. With that being said, I would like to throw out a life line, or just a few tips and tools I used to pass for those who are faced with this task.

****Tip One****

DO NOT PANIC. Albeit, this is a natural thing to do, but you have to calm yourself and ease your mind... Relax. When you are in a state of anxiety and tenseness, it is difficult for you to concentrate and focus on the knowledge you've attained to answer the question. Most of the time, you either know the answer, or have enough knowledge to filter out the wrong choices to get the right one. But if you're in a state of panic, all that goes out the door, so again DO NOT PANIC.

****Tip Two****

When it comes to the Hesi, there are some harsh realities that one has to accept and overcome to pass and move on. Yes, the Hesi is harder than the NCLEX with the diluted and foolish logic that if you can pass the Hesi you can pass the NCLEX, even though it is common knowledge, especially to those who have taken it, that the NCLEX is a whole different test and unlike anything seen (NCLEX makes it this way). Another reality is that the Hesi just isn't your tool, it's not meant to help you. Nursing schools use it as a tool to keep their pass rates up and intact with the overall goal of making money; so they can advertise "Our education makes students pass Boards". This is not true, never has and never will be. It is in you to pass and triumph, and only you. Accept these realities and move forward. So the tip here is to focus on preparing yourself for the Hesi, and nothing else. The NCLEX is for tomorrow, and tomorrow "will worry about itself, each day has trouble of its own".

****Tip Three****

Use tools that are geared towards answering Hesi style questions with Hesi style rationale. The tools that I highly recommend and used before taking the test is, one, Yourbestgrade.com. This was instrumental for me to conquer my fear and anxiety about Hesi style questions, since it asks you questions how the Hesi would ask, and provides Hesi rationale, or how the Hesi thinks when it comes to subject material. The second tool I used a great deal was the Hesi review study book. This book gives you the "what you need to know" about the disease processes and conditions that will more than likely be on the exam, in summary form. The third tool I used was the Hesi/Saunders NCLEX online review course in Evolve Elsevier.This was magnificent in bringing all the knowledge that I had acquired and putting it in perspective the Hesi uses to test. The online review is long with 10 modules, with exams at the end of each and a huge cumulative at the end (this one was detrimental). It's long, but this and Yourbestgrade sent my best Hesi score (892) to a 1005 and is worth it.

****Tip Four****

Give yourself enough time to study and thoroughly go over the material. What I've seen in the past is people will, A, procrastinate and then cram, or B, panic and rush to take it. (especially between attempts). You need time, especially if you take my advice about the Hesi/Saunders NCLEX online review and Yourbestgrade , this takes time, utilize it. In the old adage: "Rome wasn't built in a day" and neither will you properly absorb all the information needed in a short period of time.

****Tip Five****

Perfect practice makes perfect. To pass this test you have to practice with as many questions as you can. Not only that, but you need to practice actually doing the questions, which means breaking down the question for what it is really asking you. From my experience, I would say that 75%-80% of the Hesi is based on deciphering the questions and filtering the 'need to know' information out rather than actual 'knowledge' (which is mind-boggling and horrifically ineffectual to say the least). So practice practice practice. By doing this, it took a lot of the anxiety away on test day simply because I was used to answering those style of questions.

I hope these tips help you conquer this exam like they helped me. This test is far from impossible and you can do it. Remove all doubt from your mind, visualize yourself doing it and go out there and execute it. God Luck and God's speed!