One common way of preparing for this type of examination is through taking an approved review course that is offered by various hospitals and nursing organizations throughout the country. In the United States, there is no specific exam required, so nurses can decide to take a review course in order to become certified. However, most nurses will find that it is necessary to pass the test in order to become licensed. In order to prepare properly for this examination, it is advisable that you take a review course. These types of courses usually cost between fifteen and twenty dollars and can be found at local community colleges or at online schools.
When taking a review course, you will learn how to take the exam and even have practice questions created just for this purpose. As well, you will have access to previous year’s testing, meaning you can refresh your memory on the types of questions that you may be faced with. Review courses are often recommended to people who are unsure about whether they will pass the examination. Some hospitals offer this type of service for free. Others, however, may charge a nominal fee for access to the review course.
Another method of preparing for this examination is to review past exam requirements. You can contact your local American Health Information Management Association or AIMA, as well as various colleges that offer programs to take the exam. While these review courses can be quite helpful, they may not help you decide whether you really need to take the examination.
The actual exam can be taken at any number of locations. It usually starts with a brief written test that you must pass before moving forward to a physiological examination. Once you have passed the initial oral and physical assessment, you will undergo a computer-based diagnostic exam. Before answering the exam, you will be required to demonstrate your knowledge of health information management principles. You will also be expected to demonstrate your familiarity with at least one medical terminology.
If you fail the first examination, you will have the opportunity to retake the examination. Each reexamination costs fifteen dollars and is generally given within two weeks of the last examination. Your certification will then be valid for one year. Even though there are no guarantees, it is still possible to get a second chance at passing the HESI exam.
If you are unsuccessful in both exams, you will be required to take an oral examination in front of a panel of medical terminology specialists. You will need to answer questions about the topics covered in the previous exam. Once again, no guarantees can be made. This is because the failure of the exam is based solely on your understanding of the material and not on your knowledge of medical terminology or the science of anatomy and physiology. Therefore, it is very unlikely that you will fail the second time around.
Of course, the fact that all of this costs money does not mean that you can’t learn how to take the HESI exam definition and understand it yourself. There are many excellent quality courses that teach you everything you need to know. In addition, many of these courses include practice exams and grading rubrics to make sure that you have mastered the material.
