Why might nursing candidates feel pressure during the HESI A2?

Nursing candidates often experience pressure during the HESI A2 primarily due to the significant role the exam plays in nursing school admissions. The HESI A2 is designed to assess a candidate's readiness for nursing school, evaluating key competencies such as reading comprehension, math skills, and scientific knowledge critical for success in nursing programs. Since admissions decisions are heavily influenced by performance on this exam, candidates may feel a heightened sense of anxiety to score well, knowing that their results directly impact their opportunity to enter the nursing field.

While the popularity of nursing as a career and the complexity of the subject matter can contribute to overall stress, it is the direct consequence of exam performance on admission opportunities that creates the most immediate pressure for candidates. The duration of the exam can also be a factor in stress levels, but it is the stakes associated with the exam's results that most significantly heighten candidates' feelings of pressure.