Published Nov 21, 2007
TerrieC
1 Post
Hello everyone. I enjoy the newsletters and so much information shared among nurses. This is my first posting and am of course in need of advice. Regarding the HESI exit exam for RN's. My daughter is scheduled to graduate from an AD RN program in 3 weeks. The HESI exam is new to her school this semester. They are told that they have 3 attempts and if this is not passed by a score of 900, the entire semester will need to be repeated. Well, second attempt received a score of 870, one more try. Can schools really dictate a passing score when it is already defined as 850. I can't see spending another semester for a 2 year degree. 27 of the 34 students scheduled to graduate have not passed this test, nor is there room for all of them to repeat the semester. I appreciate any input. Frustrated mom!
Jolie, BSN
6,375 Posts
Many schools have added the HESI (or other test) as an exit exam for graduating RN students. I don't agree with it, but that's another thread.
If passing the HESI within 3 attempts was NOT a stated requirement at the time your daughter enrolled in the nursing program, then I believe that your daughter may have a valid legal argument that it violates the student's "contract" with the college. Generally speaking, the college catalog in effect at the time a student begins an education program states the requirements for successful completion and graduation from the program. Usually, unilateral changes to the program requirements are not allowed during the time frame that the catalog is in effect. If the college decided to add the HESI requirement AFTER your daughter was already progresing thru the program, the requirement should apply to subsequent classes of students, not hers.
Best of luck to her and her classmates!
Tweety, BSN, RN
35,410 Posts
Good luck to you daughter.
I'm relatively sure schools can set their own standards on what is considered passing. For example a "D" is considered failure in many schools, and in some grad schools a "C" won't allow you to advance.
I'll move your post out of Introductions into the General Forum, where I hope some who have passed HESI can give advice on how they did it.
Good luck to your daughter.
midcom
428 Posts
I believe that the school can make changes in policy during enrollment if they provide written documentation & have the students sign it.
My school, at the end of my 3rd term informed us that our test scores had to be above a certain percent. It didn't matter if you got 100% on all the other projects & assignments for the class, if the tests grades weren't high enough, you repeated the term. Several of my classmates really sweated that out, right up to the final test as they were not good test takers, but otherwise very good students.
Good luck to your daughter on her Hesi's.
Dixie