What is the HESI Test?

Want to be a nurse, huh? Well then you better learn about the HESI test. This test is required and there is no way of getting around it. In this article I’ll tell you what it is, who would want to take it, how its administered, and much much more.

First off the HESI test stands for Health Education Systems, Inc.and they are a company located out in Houston, Texas. The test was designed as a standardized test for nursing schools. Most of your research on this test will probably bring you to info about the test at Eastern Tennessee State University. They were one of the first ones to use it for their nursing school. With that said, there are many other schools who also use this test. The standard test usually covers 7 areas, Math (50 questions), Reading Comprehension (No set number of questions), General Knowledge (50 questions), Grammar (50 questions), Anatomy & Physiology (25 questions), Chemistry (25 questions) and Biology (25 questions). Depending on the school they may also add some extra questions to test your decision making skills and your learning style.

With the HESI test you will have to take it at three different stages of your education at nursing school. The first time will be during the second semester of your sophomore year of college. This will be considered your Entrance test. The test is setup to test and identify the student’s weaknesses and will cover things like math, reading, grammar, comprehension and vocabulary. To pass this test you will need to have an 80% or better score. If you should fail than you will have to take a and pass a course on promoting academic success in nursing.

The next time you will have to take the test will be the second semester of your junior year. This is considered your Mid-Curricular test. The questions from that test will consist of all things that were taught during that second semester. The passing score for this test is called the probability score, and it is 850 points. If you don’t pass it then you will need to take it again. You have three opportunities to pass this. If you still have not passed it after three times than you will receive an incomplete grade for that course.

The last time you will take this test will be right before you graduate as part of a clinical course. This is considered your Exit test. After passing this you will be finished with the HESI test and you will receive a degree from your school’s nursing program.

Remember though that just because you have a degree in nursing it does not yet mean you are certified to work as a nurse. You will still have to pass a state exam as well before you are allowed to start working as a nurse.

NOTE: The cost of this test is $25 for the Entrance test, $37 for the Mid-Curricular test, and then $35 for the Exit test.

Source:
ETSU HESI: http://www.etsu.edu/nursing/conpages/hesi_faq_s.asp