Petitioning Exit HESI scores?

FutureNurseInfo · Nov 24, 2016

Wait, you are taking a HESI prep course? Other this or I am not following your post. Also, how is that possible for you not to graduate if you do not obtain a 900 HESI score? Is it not supposed to be a nursing program entrance exam? if it is, the scores you got previously are rather good, I would not worry about it.

southernbelle32 · Nov 24, 2016

No I have taken a prep course offered by the school that was pointless. That was the only guidance we were offered at all, even after I failed. The course is pass/fail contingent on making a 900 on the Exit HESI at the end of the program, I did NOT make a 900 even though a 890. Although I have met all the BON requirements for ATT for NCLEX, I have yet to meet the school requirements for graduation and will be forced to take this class again in the spring and graduate then. It is not an entrance exam it is a Exit exam my school requires for graduation.

203bravo, MSN, APRN · Nov 24, 2016

I also went to a school that required you take an Exit HESI as part of a senior level course and the requirement was 900 or higher or you failed the course and thus didn't graduate.

You have said what your school "didn't do" to help you prepare after each attempt.. BUT you never mention what you did to help yourself better prepare for the next attempt. You also have to take some ownership in this process.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Nov 24, 2016

It's a requirement you knew about and you did not meet the score. I don't see what you have to appeal.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Nov 24, 2016

You have no case for appeal. You were given 3 attempts to achieve a score of 900, which you failed to do. Why do you feel that it is soley the school's responsibility for your 3 failures. Like the PP said, where is your personal responsibility for your failure? Are you going to blame the school or someone else if you fail NCLEX 3 times?

umbdude, MSN, APRN · Nov 25, 2016

Your school is pretty generous for giving you a 3-day live review. We got absolutely nothing other than a few recommendations on which product to buy (out of our own pockets) for HESI Exit prep.

You can and probably should file for a grievance, but it's unlikely that you will win. I have mixed feelings about using these tests to determine whether a student can graduate. HESI score predictor claims that people who scored 850-899 have approximately a 95% chance of passing, and those above 900 have 98% of passing. Why would schools require 900 minimum (instead of 850) for the extra +2-3% passing chance? I think if you take it to a judge and say "this HESI shows that I have 95% chance of passing, but my school won't give me my diploma because there's a 5% chance I won't pass," the judge would agree that a 95% of passing something is pretty darn high.

If school's argument is that they don't believe 850-899 scorers truly have 95% chance of passing, then one needs to question the validity of the test and why the school is determining the fate of a student based on a possibly invalid standardized test?

In the end, I think it's fine for a school to "weed out" students early in the nursing program (in fact, I think they should), but don't let students move onto the last semester, paid all these tuition, and say "oh you couldn't pass this test so you're not getting your degree."

SaltySarcasticSally, LPN, RN · Nov 25, 2016

I was told by a fellow nurse that legally a school cannot hold your diploma based on an exit exam. I'm not at all sure if that's true or if it varies by state, my school does not require a certain benchmark to graduate. Their attitude is if you pass the nursing program then its on you to pass NCLEX. We get an exit exam but its for our own use to see where we need to study. Since you scored so high, I would petition but if they deny it you will have to unfortunately jump through all the hoops to graduate it seems.

southernbelle32 · Nov 25, 2016

I understand that its my responsibility and i did prepare to the best of my abilities with the time I had, but to be told I don't have a chance at an appeal is not why I posted. Im looking for people who have appealed or have some information to use that will help in my grievance. Im not gonna blame my school if I fail NCLEX 3 times but as stated making a 850-899 is a 95% chance of passing NCLEX, which I have meet that score now 3 times. I have no problem taking it again, but I also what to know that I've done everything possible to get my diploma.

anchorRN, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Nov 25, 2016

I too went to a school that required the Exit HESI (way back in 2003) and it was a bit different at that time. The first time I took it I got an 89 and a 90 was required. They made me retake it a week later. I did NOTHING for the next week but study my NCLEX review book (Saunders) and the next time I took it I got a 99. You can do this, focus, and use this as an opportunity to start studying for your NCLEX. Get another test date and knock it out of the park.