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GSW School of Nursing
External Testing and Remediation Policy
(For Students Enrolled Prior to Summer 2015)
The School of Nursing has in place a Total Testing Program which consists of three parts: (a) course
exams; (b) clinical competency evaluations, and (c) external exam testing and remediation. Throughout
the nursing program, students are evaluated in these areas.
Assessment Technology Institution (ATI) and Health Education Services, Inc. (HESI) are used for
external testing for students who began nursing studies prior to Summer 2015. ATI standardized testing is
utilized throughout the nursing program. These exams are given during specific courses to help students
identify areas of weakness or “knowledge gaps”; and to provide a series of remediation to mitigate the
lack of knowledge. During the final semester, HESI Exit Exams will be administered in NURS 4900:
Practicum in Nursing. Costs for these exams are included in nursing student fees.
ATI Content Mastery Exams Testing and Remediation Requirements:
All students are required to take proctored exams as specified in Table 1. Exam administration schedules
will be published in the course syllabus.
Table I. Content Mastery Exams and Exit Exams Administered in Nursing Courses
Course
NURS 4100- Adult Health II
HESI Exams/ATI Exams
ATI RN Adult Medical Surgical
NURS 4200- Psychiatric Mental
Health Nursing
NURS 4630 – Pharmacology II
ATI RN Mental Health
NURS 4900- Practicum in Nursing
ATI Leadership Exam
HESI Exit Exams (2)
ATI RN Pharmacology
Students who do not achieve the benchmark score on the FIRST proctored exam will be required to
complete remediation activities stipulated in Table 2.
Failure to take proctored assessment(s) as required by policy and complete all assigned remediation
activities will result in course failure (F).
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Table II. ATI Testing and Active Learning/Remediation Protocol: Content Mastery Exams
ATI
Proctored
Assessment 1
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1*
Below Level
1*
Remediation after Proctored Exam 1

4 hour Focused Review weekly before
end of course highly recommended but
not required.
 3 handwritten critical points to remember
for each question topic to review highly
recommended but not required.
 8 hour Focused Review weekly before
end of course highly recommended but
not required
 3 handwritten critical points to remember
for each question topic to review highly
recommended but not required.
Under guidance and supervision of Retention
Specialist:
 Student to make an appointment with
Retention Specialist
 Retention specialist will initiate a
contract to include a minimum of ten(10)
hours weekly of focused review
remediation..
o 3 handwritten critical points to
remember for each question topic
to review will count as 2 hours of
the required focused review
remediation.
 Student is required to complete and
submit verifications of completion of all
remediation requirements specified in the
contract to the Retention Specialist one
week (7 days) prior to the scheduled
date of the second proctored exam.
 Failure to take proctored assessments as
required by policy and complete all
assigned remediation activities will result
in course failure (F).
 Student to make an appointment with
Retention Specialist
 Retention specialist will initiate a
contract to include a minimum of twelve
(12) hours weekly of focused review
remediation..
o 3 handwritten critical points to
remember for each question topic
to review will count as 2 hours of
ATI
Proctored
Retake
Required
No retake
required
Remediation
Recommended after
Proctored
Assessment 2
No retake
required
Proctored
Assessment
Retake
(outside of
class time)
Level 1*
 10 hour Focused
Review weekly is
highly
recommended to
include:
 3 critical points to
remember for each
question topic to
review
Proctored
Assessment
Retake
(outside of
class time)
Below Level 1*
 12 hour Focused
Review weekly is
highly
recommended to
include:
 3 critical points to
remember for each
question topic to
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

the required focused review
remediation.
Student is required to complete and
submit verifications of completion of all
remediation requirements specified in the
contract to the Retention Specialist one
week (7 days) prior to the scheduled
date of the second proctored exam.
Failure to take proctored assessments as
required by policy and complete all
assigned remediation activities will result
in course failure (F).
review
* Student must submit verification/evidence of completing all remediation to Retention Specialist for
scores of Level 1 or below on Proctored ATI Assessment 1 and is required to take a second proctored
exam. If the student does not achieve a Level 2 or higher on Proctored ATI Assessment 2 the
remediation activities as specified in Table 2 are highly encouraged as part of NCLEX-RN
readiness preparation.
HESI Exit Examination and Remediation Requirements:
Students enrolled in NURS 4900 will be required to take the HESI Exit Examination. The examination
will be given twice during the semester. The first attempt will be given at the beginning of the semester
and the second exam will be given around midterm. Both exams will be used to guide remediation
activities. All students will be required to complete remediation activities prior to taking a second version
of the Exit exam. If a score of 900 is not achieved on the second attempt, the student must complete
remediation activities as outlined in Table 3. Based on the HESIExit Exam score, weekly remediation
will be required according to Table 3. The weekly remediation will be under the direction of the
Retention Specialist or course faculty if designated.
Failure to complete both exams and all remediation requirements will result in a course grade of
“F” for NURS 4900. A HESI EXIT examination score of less than 850 will require directly
monitored remediation activities for the remainder of the semester outside of regularly scheduled
class time. Refer to the course syllabus for a detailed description of the grading policy.
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Table 3. HESI Exit Exam and Remediation Requirements
HESI
Proctored
Exam #1
900 or
above
850-899
Remediation after Proctored Exam
#1*
A minimum of two (2) hours HESI
Remediation and two (2) hours Adaptive
Testing each week.
A minimum of four (4) hours HESI
Remediation and four (4) hours Adaptive
Testing each week.

750- 849



Student to make an appointment with
Retention Specialist
The retention specialist/course faculty
will initiate a contract to include a
minimum of ten (10) hours weekly
remediation activities.
Verification of completion of all
remediation requirements to be
submitted to the Retention Specialist
one week (7 days) prior to the date of
the second exam specified in contract.
Failure to take proctored assessments
as required by policy and complete the
assigned remediation activities will
result in course failure (F).
HESI Proctored
Exam #2
Requirement
Remediation Required
After Proctored Exam #2
Proctored
Assessment Retake
Required
(outside of class
time)
Proctored
Assessment Retake
Required
(outside of class
time)
No additional remediation
required
Proctored
Assessment Retake
Required
(outside of class
time)
A minimum of four (4) hours
HESI Remediation and four
(4) hours Adaptive Testing
each week.





749 and
below



Student to make an appointment with
Retention Specialist
The retention specialist/course faculty
will initiate a contract to include a
minimum of twelve (12) hours of
weekly remediation activities.
Verification of completion of all
remediation requirements to be
submitted to the Retention Specialist
one week (7 days) prior to the date of
the second exam specified in contract
Failure to take proctored assessments
as required by policy and complete the
assigned remediation activities will
result in course failure (F).
Proctored
Assessment Retake
(outside of class
time)



Student to make an
appointment with
Retention Specialist
Retention
Specialist/course faculty
will initiate a contract to
include a minimum of
ten (10) hours weekly
remediation activities.
Verification of
completion of all
remediation requirements
to be submitted to the
Retention Specialist prior
to taking Kaplan Review
Course.
Failure to submit
verification of
completion of contract
requirements prior to
beginning the Kaplan
Review Course will
result in a course failure
(F)
Student to make an
appointment with
Retention Specialist
The retention
specialist/course faculty
will initiate a contract to
include a minimum of
twelve (12) hours of
weekly remediation
activities.
Verification of
completion of all
contract requirements to
be submitted to the
Retention Specialist
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
prior to taking Kaplan
Review Course.
Failure to submit
verification of
completion of contract
requirements prior to
beginning the Kaplan
Review Course will
result in a course failure
(F)
Note:
This policy replaces the former former ATI and HESI Utilization Policy as found in the 2015-2016 PreLicensure Nursing Student Handbook (Pages 62-66).
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Student Remediation Agreement
Name: _________________________________________Course: NURS____________
Faculty/Retention Specialist: _______________________
Retention Specialist and Student should each retain a copy of this agreement after each
meeting.
The acceptable score on the HESI Exam is 900 or higher and level two on the ATI Exam.
Initial assessment: HESI Exam Score: ___________ATI Exam Score:____________
Faculty and student will jointly review HESI/ATI Exam score and identify remediation
recommendations to be completed by or on ____/____/_____
Remediation requirements:
Requirement
Proof of Completion
Faculty signature/date
Continuing remediation recommendations which faculty will review by or on __/____/____
Requirement
Proof of Completion
Faculty signature/date
Final assessment: HESI Exam (attempt #2) Score: _________ ATI Exam Score: ____________
Student signature ______________________ Faculty signature __________________________
(Retain copy of this completed form for Course book.)
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