St. Josephs entrance exam?

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Hi everyone...great to find you all. I am planning on taking the entrance exam for St. Joe's school of nursing and Im first, terrified and second want to try and study up on what I will be tested on. What is this test called? I have read about something called PAX? What kind of study guide should I get to help me? I've been out of high school for 15 years...

Thanks so much.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

Good luck! I almost applied to St. Joe's also, for their Keene program, but I am going to Rivier in the fall, which is affiliated with St. Joe's.

I'd call and ask them which test you'll be taking. I *thought* they gave the NET exam, because I did call and ask them if they accepted my NLN scores that I had taken, but they would not. They should be able to tell you which guides will be good also.

I think most of the exams are pretty similar though, in that they will cover science, math, and reading comprehension/English. The NLN had all 3 parts, and we got (if I remember correctly) 90 minutes for each section. I found the math part the hardest, because we were NOT allowed to use calculators, and there were quite a few questions that I would have normally used a calc for. I think any book you may find at your library concerning tests such as those would be a good help. :)

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Thanks Whitney,

This whole thing is confusing and overwhelming for me :imbar It seems as though trying to get in at St. Joe's would be my easiest way to do it? Now..tell me what happens if I dont pass the test? What should be my next step besides trying to take the test again?

Thanks for your help :-)

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My step mother is a nurse at St. Joe's and has been for a long time. Her name is Becky Pockl. I live too far from there and with a family of 2 small children and a husband it is not possible for me to go there. I would have loved to though! That would be an experience.

I go to NHTI in concord currently. It is a really good program and pretty tough but I am doing well. :p The end of this semester is almost here. YAY! less than a month. :balloons:

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Yes, retake the test. but first find ut when you ae able to retake it if you fail it. some tests will not allow you to retake a failed test for at least a year after the initial test was taken.

I hope you get in!!

I graduate in May 2006! :balloons: I am a night student so it will take me 3 years to complete.

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I am a graduate from St. Joe's, (April 2003), the pre- entrance exam was a basic high school review of verbal ability, algebra, and science. I have to say, that taking a longer route in obtaining my goals has helped me in learning how every aspect of a long term care facility, hospital, or where ever you work, come together to work as a team. I was an LNA for six years prior to attending St. Joe's, and now, with a little more than a year's experience under my belt as an LPN, I am now enrolled at Rivier college with aspirations to obtain my RN. I applaud anyone starting on this adventure we call nursing school, and wish you good luck!!!

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I am a graduate from St. Joe's, (April 2003), the pre- entrance exam was a basic high school review of verbal ability, algebra, and science. I have to say, that taking a longer route in obtaining my goals has helped me in learning how every aspect of a long term care facility, hospital, or where ever you work, come together to work as a team. I was an LNA for six years prior to attending St. Joe's, and now, with a little more than a year's experience under my belt as an LPN, I am now enrolled at Rivier college with aspirations to obtain my RN. I applaud anyone starting on this adventure we call nursing school, and wish you good luck!!!

Thanks for your response. I did end up taking the NET test and just heard back from St. Josephs that I met the requirements. Yay :) In my letter, it said I would have to take a basic math proficiency test at the interview (and financial aid meeting) and passs it with a 75%. Is this standard? I didnt know if maybe I didnt have a high enough math score on the NET test.

Tell me about your expereince with the school. I was also interested in attending another school and Im curious to hear from graduates. I am also an LNA (with jsut a years experience). I think its very important to know what youre getting into so I am glad I have this experience. ANyway, I work with several nurses who went to St. Joes as well.

What is the process going on to RN school at Riv? How much longer will you have to go?

Thanks again for your response :-)

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I graduated from St. Joe's Keene program in 2000. Prior to that I had been working as a CNA for 16 years & that background experience helped alot. The Keene program was 11 months long with next to no time off, very full time. I also didn't do well with math & told them proir to my entering the program that I'd need some help with that. My instructors ( one especially) were very helpful with the math. In all, I enjoyed the St. Joe's program & I'm happy to hear that you did well on the entrance exam. Pam

ps. I think that by going to Rivier after St Joe's it will take you another year. Rivier works closely with St. Joe's & alot of St' Joe's students get their RNs that way

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I graduated from St. Joe's Keene program in 2000. Prior to that I had been working as a CNA for 16 years & that background experience helped alot. The Keene program was 11 months long with next to no time off, very full time. I also didn't do well with math & told them proir to my entering the program that I'd need some help with that. My instructors ( one especially) were very helpful with the math. In all, I enjoyed the St. Joe's program & I'm happy to hear that you did well on the entrance exam. Pam

ps. I think that by going to Rivier after St Joe's it will take you another year. Rivier works closely with St. Joe's & alot of St' Joe's students get their RNs that way

Thanks. I didnt realize there was a program in Keene! 11 months is better than 18, I think....though I wonder if the summer off and having Friday's off will be nice. Once you begin clinicals do you still have those Fridays off? I go on THursday and I will most likely be finding out all the information I need....in the mean time Im curious.

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I know that the Nashua students had the summer off & Fridays too. We didn't in Keene. It was full speed ahead but I liked that we were done in 11 months. If my memory serves me correctly, our clinical days were Tuesdays & Wednesday. Monday, Thursday & Friday were class days. All the best. Pam

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Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

I'm going to Riv starting in September for the RN program. I'm so excitednervousscared!

I looked into the LPN program at Keene also. I met some of the students when I was hospitalized in Peterborough this past December, and spoke to one of the instructors while I was in there (she saw me studying, and I told her I was going to nursing school. She commended me for being so driven that I was studying while sick enough to be hospitalized, and that I would have a place in her program if I wanted it! LOL). The only thing that I didn't like about the 11 month program was that it started in April, and didn't have the summer off. That would have been a nightmare for me to find childcare for some of those days. I just couldn't let my 13yo daughter watch her 3 brothers all day, every day. Not fair to her, even with paying her.

But from all of the research I did, it sounded like a WONDERFUL program. The student nurse I had in the hospital talked to me quite a bit about it, and she really enjoyed it, and the instructors.

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Well, an update. Im enrolled at St. Joseph's School of Practical Nursing :-) Yaaaaaay. I went yesterday for the information exchange and also met with the financial aid person. I passed the Math test they gave us.......so, I am *in* :-) I still cant believe it. Got the book list, schedule for September and the invoice for payment :)

I cant believe how quickly this whole process was. I started a while back applying to St. Joes and had all of my things into them except for my Net test. At that point, I decided I was going to go with a different school because it was a shorter program, didnt take the summers off (yes, a nightmare for me also with three kids.....I was hopefully going to switch to the night program during the summer months). Turns out that they werent an accredited school(after being told by the state and the school they were).

I quickly called St. Joes last week...monday. They said that it was too late, the last net test was scheduled for Wednesday and I wouldnt be able to get in.......but I said AHA! I took it already can i send my scores? I would need to hurry. I overnighted them, they got them on Wednesday. They already hade my references, application,etc. On Friday of last week I got my letter saying I met all the requirements. Called Monday to set up an interview and had that on thursday..yesterday. So, its been two weeks. Im in shock :) I hope I can make it through.

Oh...also, they do have that arrangement with Riv but its for the night program. Riv reserves seats for St. Joes in the night class which is part time. I dont see why one couldnt try to get into the day program regardless. Actually, I have someone at work who went through St. Joes and is going full time for her RN at Riv. For ADN...RN, going part time it takes 2 years. Good info to tuck away for future reference. One step at a time

Good luck to you at Riv!!! It is so exciting :-)

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