Many nursing schools require that you get a specific score on the HESI Test, so it’s especially important that you pass with flying colors. Many people become nervous about tests, especially ones that are so important as the HESI Test. Here is a list of study tips for passing the HESI Test.
1. Create a study group. Gather up some classmates and agree to meet regularly. By studying together, you tend to remember things better, and you can also help encourage each other when you start to feel frustrated, or overwhelmed.
2. Attend a review session. Hospitals, universities, and private test centers will hold review sessions. Some names to look for in private test centers are “Kaplan” and “Hurst”. You will have to pay for these review sessions, but it will be worth it, especially if it’s what helps you pass. Take some friends or your study group and go over what you learned together.
3. Purchase an online review. Some organizations offer one, three, or five week review sessions you can complete online. You will need a fast internet connection and the ability to download their software. Several such as, National Council of State Boards of Nursing will give you additional tips,relaxation techniques, and additional terminology to help cover those tricky questions that might come up.
4. Get some remediation books directly from HESI. Each book comes with a disc that contains practice exams. This is helpful if you know the material but have problems understanding exactly what the questions are asking. Each exam comes with question rationales for the questions you miss. The more you read the rationales, the more you can figure out what the questions mean.
5. Use other study guides. Look for books that say “NCLEX Prep”. These are VERY safe to study from. Try and complete at least ten questions per day. A couple of good ones are “Saunders Review Book”, and “Fryes’ 3300”. Just make sure that you are using the most current copy available.
6. Specific Remediation. If by chance you have already take the HESI, you will know where your weaknesses are. Refer back to your class notes and look at just specifically where your weakness lies in. Buy some help books that are specific to that area.
7. Use your common sense. Many questions on the HESI are common sense questions that are just worded to make them look complicated. Eliminate the extraneous information, and just ask yourself exactly what the question is asking. Try and look at the question without reading too much into it.
8. Tell your family and friends to give you some space for a couple of weeks. Even though you love your family and friends, you will need a couple of weeks of some peace and quiet to process everything. While it can be difficult for them to understand because they have good intentions and only want to help you, it’s important that they understand just how important this test is, and that it is required you pass it. If you have children, ask your friends and family to help out extra with them. If you have to, go to the library, or a quiet park where you can study in peace.
9. Make sure and eat a good breakfast the morning of the exam. Sometimes we get so nervous before a test, we thinking skipping breakfast will help but that’s very far from the truth. A full stomach will help you concentrate better. Just be careful not to overdo it.
10. Realize you’re not alone!! There are lots of other students out there who are going through the same thing and lots of others who have gone through what you’re going through. Remember if others can do it, so can you!
