Registered nurses are on the Georgia Department of Labor’s list of hot careers. The state is expected to have 3,470 new positions a year through 2018, for an annual growth rate of 3.1 percent. That’s great news for anyone who wants to be a nurse.
The challenge is getting into nursing school. Many programs have more applicants than spaces, so admissions are highly competitive. Applicants need to present the strongest credentials possible to get accepted.
The College of Continuing and Professional Education at Kennesaw State University is offering help with one admissions requirement for most nursing programs, the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). The test is also required for other allied health professions, such as dental hygiene.
“We knew that many students applying to nursing programs had to take this test and we were hearing that a number of students don’t pass it the first time around or get the scores that they want,” said Ann Vancza, program director for KSU’s College of Continuing and Professional Education.
Offered by the Assessment Technologies Institute, the TEAS is a content-driven, standardized exam designed to test general competency in math, English, reading and science. Students have about three-and-a-half hours to answer 170 multiple-choice questions.
The math section covers problems that involve whole numbers, metric conversion, fractions, decimals, algebraic equations, percentages and ratios/proportions. The English questions test for spelling and grammar. The reading section covers reading comprehension skills while the science portion includes topics from general science, chemistry and biology.
“We wanted to offer a short [exam preparation] course that would help students with test-taking strategies for this exam,” said Andrea Cochran, program manager.
“Knowing what kind of questions to expect and how to take the test most effectively can give students greater confidence,” Vancza added.
An exam preparation course can be especially beneficial to students who have been out of the classroom for a few years.
Students who register for one of the TEAS exam preparation classes will take a practice exam to familiarize them with the content that’s covered and help them assess their strengths and weaknesses, Cochran explained.
KSU instructors use Assessment Technologies Institute study packages that include practice tests and guides.
“Students could order or download these materials and study on their own, but some students learn better in a classroom,” Cochran said. “They could benefit from interacting with an instructor who can help them review the questions from a nursing perspective. They may also want to form study groups with other students.”
Kennesaw will offer the TEAS preparation course three times this spring, in time for students to take the TEAS exam before most nursing application deadlines. The course will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 14, April 28 and May 12. The cost is $249, and about $120 for books and materials.
For information or to register, call 770-423-6765 or go to ccpe.kennesaw.edu.
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