HESI A2 Vocabulary Exam 2025/2026
– Verified Questions with Correct
Answers and Explanations
Question 1: What does the term "abate" mean in a medical context?
A) To increase suddenly
B) To reduce or lessen in intensity
C) To diagnose accurately
D) To administer medication
B) To reduce or lessen in intensity
Rationale: "Abate" means to decrease or diminish, often used to describe symptoms subsiding
(e.g., fever abating). Relevant in healthcare for patient progress notes. A, C, and D are incorrect
as they do not align with the definition.
Question 2: What is the meaning of "acute" in a hospital setting?
A) Mild and manageable
B) Sudden onset and severe
C) Chronic and persistent
D) Undiagnosed condition
B) Sudden onset and severe
Rationale: "Acute" describes conditions with rapid onset and short duration, like acute
appendicitis. C refers to chronic conditions; A and D are inaccurate.
Question 3: What does "adverse" mean when discussing medication effects?
A) Beneficial and expected
B) Harmful or unfavorable
C) Neutral and temporary
D) Long-term and stable
B) Harmful or unfavorable
Rationale: "Adverse" refers to negative side effects, critical for nurses to monitor (e.g., adverse
reactions). A, C, and D misalign with the term’s medical usage.
Question 4: What is the definition of "ambulate"?
,A) To sleep restfully
B) To walk or move about
C) To measure vital signs
D) To administer oxygen
B) To walk or move about
Rationale: "Ambulate" means to walk, often used in patient recovery plans (e.g., post-surgery
ambulation). B is precise; others are unrelated.
Question 5: What does "anterior" refer to in anatomy?
A) Toward the back
B) Toward the front
C) Toward the side
D) Toward the midline
B) Toward the front
Rationale: "Anterior" indicates the front of the body (e.g., anterior chest). A (posterior), C
(lateral), and D (medial) are anatomical opposites or unrelated.
Question 6: What is the meaning of "asepsis"?
A) Presence of infection
B) Absence of pathogens
C) Surgical incision
D) Blood transfusion
B) Absence of pathogens
Rationale: "Asepsis" refers to sterile conditions to prevent infection, vital in surgical settings. A
is opposite (sepsis); C and D are unrelated.
Question 7: What does "benign" mean in a medical report?
A) Cancerous and aggressive
B) Non-threatening and non-cancerous
C) Chronic and painful
D) Acute and contagious
B) Non-threatening and non-cancerous
Rationale: "Benign" describes non-malignant conditions or tumors, reassuring in diagnostics. A
(malignant), C, and D are incorrect.
Question 8: What is the definition of "coagulate"?
A) To dissolve in liquid
B) To form a clot
, C) To reduce swelling
D) To increase circulation
B) To form a clot
Rationale: "Coagulate" refers to blood clotting, critical in wound care. A is opposite; C and D
are unrelated to the process.
Question 9: What does "congenital" mean?
A) Acquired after birth
B) Present at birth
C) Developed in adulthood
D) Caused by trauma
B) Present at birth
Rationale: "Congenital" indicates conditions existing at birth, like congenital heart defects. A,
C, and D describe other origins.
Question 10: What is the meaning of "distal" in anatomy?
A) Closer to the point of attachment
B) Farther from the point of attachment
C) Near the midline
D) On the surface
B) Farther from the point of attachment
Rationale: "Distal" describes a position farther from the body’s core or attachment (e.g., distal
phalanx). A (proximal), C (medial), and D (superficial) differ.
Question 11: What does "edema" refer to in a clinical setting?
A) Bone fracture
B) Fluid accumulation causing swelling
C) Nerve damage
D) Muscle spasms
B) Fluid accumulation causing swelling
Rationale: "Edema" is swelling from fluid buildup, common in heart failure. B is accurate;
others are unrelated conditions.
Question 12: What is the definition of "empathy"?
A) Strict adherence to rules
B) Understanding another’s feelings
C) Professional detachment
D) Medical diagnosis
– Verified Questions with Correct
Answers and Explanations
Question 1: What does the term "abate" mean in a medical context?
A) To increase suddenly
B) To reduce or lessen in intensity
C) To diagnose accurately
D) To administer medication
B) To reduce or lessen in intensity
Rationale: "Abate" means to decrease or diminish, often used to describe symptoms subsiding
(e.g., fever abating). Relevant in healthcare for patient progress notes. A, C, and D are incorrect
as they do not align with the definition.
Question 2: What is the meaning of "acute" in a hospital setting?
A) Mild and manageable
B) Sudden onset and severe
C) Chronic and persistent
D) Undiagnosed condition
B) Sudden onset and severe
Rationale: "Acute" describes conditions with rapid onset and short duration, like acute
appendicitis. C refers to chronic conditions; A and D are inaccurate.
Question 3: What does "adverse" mean when discussing medication effects?
A) Beneficial and expected
B) Harmful or unfavorable
C) Neutral and temporary
D) Long-term and stable
B) Harmful or unfavorable
Rationale: "Adverse" refers to negative side effects, critical for nurses to monitor (e.g., adverse
reactions). A, C, and D misalign with the term’s medical usage.
Question 4: What is the definition of "ambulate"?
,A) To sleep restfully
B) To walk or move about
C) To measure vital signs
D) To administer oxygen
B) To walk or move about
Rationale: "Ambulate" means to walk, often used in patient recovery plans (e.g., post-surgery
ambulation). B is precise; others are unrelated.
Question 5: What does "anterior" refer to in anatomy?
A) Toward the back
B) Toward the front
C) Toward the side
D) Toward the midline
B) Toward the front
Rationale: "Anterior" indicates the front of the body (e.g., anterior chest). A (posterior), C
(lateral), and D (medial) are anatomical opposites or unrelated.
Question 6: What is the meaning of "asepsis"?
A) Presence of infection
B) Absence of pathogens
C) Surgical incision
D) Blood transfusion
B) Absence of pathogens
Rationale: "Asepsis" refers to sterile conditions to prevent infection, vital in surgical settings. A
is opposite (sepsis); C and D are unrelated.
Question 7: What does "benign" mean in a medical report?
A) Cancerous and aggressive
B) Non-threatening and non-cancerous
C) Chronic and painful
D) Acute and contagious
B) Non-threatening and non-cancerous
Rationale: "Benign" describes non-malignant conditions or tumors, reassuring in diagnostics. A
(malignant), C, and D are incorrect.
Question 8: What is the definition of "coagulate"?
A) To dissolve in liquid
B) To form a clot
, C) To reduce swelling
D) To increase circulation
B) To form a clot
Rationale: "Coagulate" refers to blood clotting, critical in wound care. A is opposite; C and D
are unrelated to the process.
Question 9: What does "congenital" mean?
A) Acquired after birth
B) Present at birth
C) Developed in adulthood
D) Caused by trauma
B) Present at birth
Rationale: "Congenital" indicates conditions existing at birth, like congenital heart defects. A,
C, and D describe other origins.
Question 10: What is the meaning of "distal" in anatomy?
A) Closer to the point of attachment
B) Farther from the point of attachment
C) Near the midline
D) On the surface
B) Farther from the point of attachment
Rationale: "Distal" describes a position farther from the body’s core or attachment (e.g., distal
phalanx). A (proximal), C (medial), and D (superficial) differ.
Question 11: What does "edema" refer to in a clinical setting?
A) Bone fracture
B) Fluid accumulation causing swelling
C) Nerve damage
D) Muscle spasms
B) Fluid accumulation causing swelling
Rationale: "Edema" is swelling from fluid buildup, common in heart failure. B is accurate;
others are unrelated conditions.
Question 12: What is the definition of "empathy"?
A) Strict adherence to rules
B) Understanding another’s feelings
C) Professional detachment
D) Medical diagnosis
