HESI A2 Entrance Exam Questions Verified and Provided
with A+ Graded Answers Latest Updated 2026
virulence the ability to produce disease
efface to wipe out, to rub out, do away with; (medical) the
thinning of the cervix during labor
ubiquitous omnipresent, existing or being everywhere
osmosis process of fluid passing through semi-permeable
membrane from higher to lower concentration
labile apt or likely to change, changing quickly
-Because the children fever was very labile the nurse instructed
the unlicensed assistive personnel to check the temp
frequently.
febrile having or showing symptoms of a fever
dynamic energetic, lively
insidious dangerous, treacherous, so gradual as to not become
apparent for a long time
-The doctor explained that the cancer probably started years
ago but had not been detected because it spread was so
insidious.
empathy understanding another's pain, suffering alongside someone else
anticipatory showing anticipation, looking forward to
ominous threatening, menacing
preferred to set above or hold above another, to like better than another
acute sharp, intense, coming about quickly
chronic (medical) refers to a disease or condition that is long-lasting and
reoccurring
exploratory (medical) refers to a surgery or procedure used to diagnose
a disease or condition but not treat it
recessive (genetics) A trait or a gene that can be dominated by another
(dominant) trait or gene
assent To agree (not the same as ascend, to go up or higher), to give
consent
toxic poisonous
subjective data (medical) Symptoms. Information that is apparent only to the
person affected; that person is the only one who can verify
it. Examples are pain, fear, and itching.
, objective data (medical) Signs. Information that can be detected or measured by
an observer against a standard. Examples are blood pressure,
body
temperature, and observing a patient crying.
effect more often used as a noun, meaning result or outcome
affect Often seen as a verb, meaning to influence or to change.
In medical terminology, it may be used as a noun meaning
a person's emotional response or disposition.
overt in the open, clearly visible, not hidden
anterior toward the front
contract pronounced with the accent on the second syllable (and
used as a verb), it means to draw up, to draw together
-The physical therapist exercises the patients muscles so they
contract and expand.
rigidity stiffness, the stat of not being flexible
persecute to harass or annoy constantly
longevity long life
impervious cannot be penetrated or affected
distension swollen and protruding out further than normal
ambivalent uncertain, having contradictory feelings, unable to make a
decision between two conflicting choices
patent (medical) Pronounced with a long a ,̅ refers to something
tube-shaped that is open and unblocked (such as an artery)
potent powerful, producing a strong effect
-the medicine was very potent and it immediately relieved
the pateint pain
adhere to stick to, either literally or figuratively (to adhere to the
wall); to adhere to a strict diet
euthanasia referred to as a "mercy killing," to choose to end the life of
someone who is terminally ill
prognosis predicting the likely outcome of an illness
antigen a foreign substance that causes the immune system to make
antibodies against it
abstain to voluntarily refrain from
incidence the rate at which something occurs, such as injuries or illnesses
hydrophilic attracted to water ("water loving")