| One of the biggest hurtles that aspiring | | | | |
| nursing school students must face is the | | | | If you're a prospective nursing student still |
| Nursing Entrance Test. This is a nationally | | | | in high school, you can do a number of things |
| standardized test that is administered prior | | | | to prepare yourself. First, talk to your |
| to placing students on the long waiting list | | | | school guidance counselor. He or she can |
| for nursing school. Even if the student has | | | | point you in the direction of appropriate |
| passed all the prerequisites required for | | | | schools and help determine your course of |
| admission, such as anatomy and physiology, | | | | study. Most nursing programs will look for |
| English 131 and 132, Sociology, Pharmacology, | | | | two to four years of math and science, four |
| and Chemistry, this doesn't guarantee | | | | years of English, one to two years of health |
| admission to nursing school. | | | | studies, and some foreign language and |
| | | | computer science skills. |
| Most RN as well as LVN/LPN nursing schools | | | | |
| are now requiring an entrance exam. The most | | | | Most of the prep books cover a plethora of |
| popular is the NET, or Nursing Entrance Test. | | | | topics associated with various exams offered |
| It is a computer-based test which consists of | | | | in the many fields of health care. This is |
| seven parts. These include: | | | | insufficient for the knowledge that is |
| | | | required for passing the Nursing Entrance |
| * math skills (from basics through algebra) | | | | Test. Those who feel that the test is simply |
| | | | a remedial exercise in review are surprised |
| * reading comprehension (at the 10th grade | | | | when they sit for the test, because many have |
| level) for science textbooks | | | | forgotten some basic math and algebra |
| | | | principals. Unfortunately, there are those |
| * a reading rate exam | | | | who have been away from school for such a |
| | | | long time that when they sit for the exam |
| * an evaluation of test-taking skills | | | | they do very poorly. Some students have |
| | | | never learned math skills efficiently enough |
| * a stress level profile | | | | to be able to apply them in a test setting. |
| | | | The key to remedy much of this stress is to |
| * a social interaction profile | | | | provide those students that are going to be |
| | | | taking the test with materials that will |
| * learning style evaluation | | | | prepare them for exactly what to expect in |
| | | | the same method that the test is |
| Although there are required passing grades, | | | | administered. |
| of a C at the least, the Nursing Entrance | | | | |
| Test must be passed in order to be put on the | | | | There is another level of stress that has |
| list for admission to nursing school. This | | | | been added to the test recently. That is, |
| is by far the most nerve racking test that | | | | that the student is now only allowed to fail |
| students must face. The main reason for this | | | | up to three times. After which, the student |
| anxiety is that many students have come into | | | | can no longer enroll in the nursing program |
| the test either unprepared or just | | | | at that particular school. For instance, |
| overconfident. Unfortunately, the | | | | Henry Ford Community College has now adopted |
| preparatory literature that is currently | | | | this rule. This is very annoying and |
| available does not do complete justice to | | | | frustrating to those students who have taken |
| covering all that is necessary for the | | | | all of their prerequisites and are on their |
| Nursing Entrance Test. | | | | last chance. They are faced with having to |
| | | | transfer their credits to another nursing |
| Most schools require at least a score of 50 | | | | school program and take the test again at |
| on the math and reading comprehension | | | | another school. This prolongs their |
| sections. Students must be able to comprehend | | | | admission to nursing school which is usually |
| science textbooks which are written at a 10th | | | | a two to three year wait at the minimum. |
| grade reading level. This is considered to be | | | | Some students have opted to take a refresher |
| the "norm" for adult reading levels for | | | | math course. However, this is in no way a |
| college applicants. Algebra is essential for | | | | guarantee that they will pass the Nursing |
| medication calculations. The two combined | | | | Entrance Test. Much of the math in a |
| give a good indication of the ability to use | | | | remedial math course is not sufficient to |
| critical thinking skills which are essential | | | | pass the Nursing Entrance Test. |
| to RN programs. | | | | |