Nursing Entrance Exam for RN and LPN Programs

Nursing Entrance Exam

Overview

Students seeking admissions to Trocaire’s Registered Nurse (RN) or Practical Nurse (PN) programs are required to complete the HESI Admissions Assessment Exam (A2) as part of the admissions criteria. Before signing up to take the exam, students should complete an admission application to Trocaire and meet with an admissions counselor to discuss eligibility and admissions criteria for the program of interest. The Health Education Services Inc. (HESI), Admission Assessment Exam (A2), measures competencies and academic readiness into the RN and PN nursing programs. Students are eligible for nursing admission based on their GPA and HESI A2 scores.

Topics Covered

For the RN program students are tested on the following categories: Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and Basic Math Skills. A composite and category score of 75% is the benchmark score for admission into the program.

For the PN program, students are tested on the following categories: Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and Basic Math Skills. A composite and category score of 73% is the benchmark score for admission into the program.

Taking the Exam Remotely (1st Time Trocaire College Testers Only)

The HESI Admissions Assessment Exam (A2) is offered online, proctored through Proctor U, for first time exam testers with Trocaire College. This enables students to pick the best time and method to take the exam. The exam is approximately 2 hours in length and must be done in one occurrence. Students cannot begin the exam and come back to finish at a later time. Students are able to register to take the exam by following the simple instructions HERE.

Taking the Exam on Campus

In an effort to help students take the A2 exam, we have created a space for students to take the A2 Exam on campus. Please click here to find out sign up and register. When registering, please make sure to complete all fields listed. Click here to register to take the A2 exam on campus.

Study Resources

Preparation is an integral part of achieving success on the HESI A2 entrance exam. It is of utmost importance students have a solid understanding of the topics covered on the exam. Study guides in the form of a HESI A2 practice booklet are available for purchase at Trocaire’s Bookstore offered through Barnes and Noble (copy and paste ISBN # 9780443114090 into the search bar). Students should plan to prepare for the exam by reading practices questions and understanding the topics that will be covered. Additional study guides for the HESI A2 can be found online.

The Palisano Learning Center offers free tutoring sessions to help students prepare to take the exam. Visit https://trocaire.edu/academics/academic-support/palisano-learning-center/ for more information.

Cost

The cost of the first attempt of the HESI A2 and proctoring by Proctor U is covered by Trocaire College. Applicants who do not meet score requirements will be notified and offered the opportunity to take the test again at their own expense.

Exam Results

Test result are immediate. In order to access your exam results, log back into your Elsevier account. Once logged in, click on “Student Access” and “My Exams.” All test results will be listed. The AAS nursing program benchmark score for admissions is a 75% for the composite, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and math scores. The PN program benchmark scores are a 73% for the composite, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and math scores. After completing the A2 exam, your scores will be sent to the Admissions office for review as part of the admissions process.

Remediation

Free online tutoring remediation is available through HESI to those who take the exam and do not achieve the needed scores to assist with preparation for the second attempt. Directions for HESI remediation can be found here: HESI Remediation