Preparing for Nursing School Entrance Exam

The entrance exam offered by nursing schools is a competitive and time-checked test meant to determine the students’ level of knowledge and their credentials.  The lowest mark for getting admission into a nursing program is an average pass.  Many examinations are also provided by certified agencies in the educational field either on location or online.

In most parts of the United States, nursing school programs usually have very competitive admission processes.  Most schools that offer training to Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses require candidates to take a qualifying entrance exam first, for ensuring that they have a solid understanding and knowledge of the prerequisite subjects.  Some schools require a specific score on the nursing exam for students to be eligible for admission.  Others might evaluate an applicant’s scores on the admission test together with other factors like the GPA for offering admission.

Some of the most common pre-entrance exams required by nursing schools include the TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills), the NET (Nursing Entrance Test), and the HESI (Health Education Systems, Inc.).  Aspiring nurses should find out from the schools they intend applying to about which specific tests they will have to take, and about what impact their scores would have on the admission process.  Most nursing entrance exams generally test students on a specific set of important subject areas, but they do vary a bit in format and test content.

To make sure you pass the entrance exam, see that you study well and also try to practice attempting the test as much as possible before your actual test date.  If you know in advance which particular nursing school admission exam you will be taking, you will be able to prepare yourself well.  You could also use study guides and useful tips for the different admission tests, often available online and also in print.

The basic entrance exam is aimed at testing the general medical knowledge, mental capability, and speech articulation of students.  Continue Reading »
How to Prepare for Nursing School Entrance Exam

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How to Apply to Nursing School

Nursing forms an integral segment of patient healthcare.  But recently we had a shortage of nurses.  Even so, getting admission into nursing schools is becoming increasingly competitive since the last few years.  This does not however deter those who have set their hearts on becoming nurses.

For those who would love to be in a job that involves caring for other people, nursing could be a very good career option as it would offer both stability as well as job satisfaction.  Also, job opportunities are plenty both in the public and private sectors.

To qualify for a career in nursing, you would need to perform reasonably well in high school.  You would need a high school diploma or something equivalent like the GED.  If you have performed rather well in subjects like Mathematics and Sciences in your high school courses, this would improve your chances of satisfying the application requirements without any hassle.  In addition, you would be required to have the SAT or ACT, while non-native English speakers would also need to take the TOEFL.

Once you have the qualifying requirements, you need to choose the right nursing school.  There are many to choose from nowadays, some genuine, others that are not recognized.  Some could even  be out to take undue advantage of desperate nursing aspirants.  So visit different schools offering nursing programs and and ask for their application forms.  After checking these out find out if you qualify for their program or not.  Some schools may require a few prerequisite courses to be completed before offering candidates admission into their nursing program.

Next, understand all the requirements thoroughly and fill out the application form.  To detect any errors during the filling out process, ask a friend to go through your application.  The form has to be submitted along with your high school transcripts, a few recommendation letters and an essay explaining why you want to pursue a nursing career.

Nursing School Admission Essay

The admission essay is one of the most crucial tasks in any nursing school application.  Your essay has to convince the admission committee members that you have always been a disciplined and sincere student and will be sure to apply these qualities while performing your duties as a nurse.  Understandably therefore, your nursing school essay or personal statement is the most important part of your  entire application package.

The type of essays required by various nursing schools could be different.  Some might ask you to answer a specific question, others could ask you to just tell them something about yourself.  But whatever the requirement, remember that your essay will help you stand out from among thousands of applicants competing for admission.  It will demonstrate to the nursing school that you’re the ideal candidate and would make a fine addition to their student body.

So try and make your admission essay unique, vibrant and interesting, and emphasize your personality and clear thinking about your future goals as these are things that cannot be highlighted in the other sections of the application.

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