HESI A2 Vocabulary Exam 2025/2026 –
Verified Questions and 100% Correct
Answers for First Attempt Success
Question 1
What is the meaning of the word abate in a medical context?
A. To increase in intensity
B. To remain unchanged
C. To decrease or lessen
D. To spread rapidly
C. To decrease or lessen
Rationale: In medical terminology, "abate" refers to a reduction in the severity or intensity of
symptoms, such as pain or fever. This is commonly used in clinical documentation to describe
symptom improvement. Option A suggests escalation, B implies stasis, and D is unrelated to
symptom change, making C the precise choice per HESI A2 vocabulary standards.
Question 2
The nurse described the patient's condition as acute. What does this mean?
A. Chronic and persistent
B. Sudden onset and severe
C. Mild and manageable
D. Recurring intermittently
B. Sudden onset and severe
Rationale: "Acute" in healthcare denotes a condition with a rapid onset and often severe
symptoms, contrasting with "chronic" (A), which implies long-term persistence. Option C
understates the term, and D suggests episodic recurrence, which aligns more with terms like
"relapsing." HESI A2 expects precise understanding of such clinical descriptors.
Question 3
What does the term adverse imply when discussing medication effects?
,A. Beneficial and expected
B. Unfavorable or harmful
C. Neutral and temporary
D. Long-lasting and therapeutic
B. Unfavorable or harmful
Rationale: "Adverse" describes undesirable or harmful side effects of medications, as seen in
phrases like "adverse reaction." This aligns with HESI A2’s focus on patient safety terminology.
Option A refers to therapeutic effects, C is too vague, and D contradicts the negative connotation
of the term.
Question 4
The doctor instructed the patient to remain ambulatory. What does this mean?
A. Bedridden and immobile
B. Able to walk and move
C. Requiring constant supervision
D. Confined to a wheelchair
B. Able to walk and move
Rationale: "Ambulatory" indicates a patient’s ability to walk and move independently, often
used in discharge planning or rehabilitation contexts. HESI A2 tests familiarity with mobility-
related terms. Options A and D imply immobility, and C is unrelated to physical movement.
Question 5
What is the meaning of anterior in anatomical terminology?
A. Toward the back
B. Toward the side
C. Toward the front
D. Toward the midline
C. Toward the front
Rationale: In anatomy, "anterior" refers to the front of the body (e.g., the chest is anterior to the
spine). HESI A2 emphasizes precise anatomical directions. Option A describes "posterior," B
refers to "lateral," and D indicates "medial," making C the correct choice.
Question 6
The term benign in a medical report most likely means:
, A. Non-cancerous and harmless
B. Malignant and aggressive
C. Infectious and contagious
D. Chronic and untreatable
A. Non-cancerous and harmless
Rationale: "Benign" describes a condition or growth that is not cancerous and poses minimal
harm, commonly used in oncology reports. HESI A2 tests recognition of pathology terms.
Option B refers to "malignant," C is unrelated, and D misaligns with the term’s connotation.
Question 7
What does coagulation refer to in a clinical setting?
A. Blood thinning
B. Blood clotting
C. Blood transfusion
D. Blood filtration
B. Blood clotting
Rationale: "Coagulation" describes the process of blood clot formation, critical in hemostasis
discussions. HESI A2 includes terms related to physiological processes. Option A refers to
anticoagulation, C and D are unrelated to clotting mechanisms.
Question 8
The nurse noted the patient was cyanotic. What does this indicate?
A. Excessive sweating
B. Bluish skin discoloration
C. Yellowing of the skin
D. Redness and warmth
B. Bluish skin discoloration
Rationale: "Cyanotic" describes a bluish tint to the skin due to poor oxygenation, often seen in
respiratory or cardiac conditions. HESI A2 tests recognition of clinical signs. Option C refers to
jaundice, D to erythema, and A is unrelated.
Question 9
What does the term distal mean in relation to anatomy?
Verified Questions and 100% Correct
Answers for First Attempt Success
Question 1
What is the meaning of the word abate in a medical context?
A. To increase in intensity
B. To remain unchanged
C. To decrease or lessen
D. To spread rapidly
C. To decrease or lessen
Rationale: In medical terminology, "abate" refers to a reduction in the severity or intensity of
symptoms, such as pain or fever. This is commonly used in clinical documentation to describe
symptom improvement. Option A suggests escalation, B implies stasis, and D is unrelated to
symptom change, making C the precise choice per HESI A2 vocabulary standards.
Question 2
The nurse described the patient's condition as acute. What does this mean?
A. Chronic and persistent
B. Sudden onset and severe
C. Mild and manageable
D. Recurring intermittently
B. Sudden onset and severe
Rationale: "Acute" in healthcare denotes a condition with a rapid onset and often severe
symptoms, contrasting with "chronic" (A), which implies long-term persistence. Option C
understates the term, and D suggests episodic recurrence, which aligns more with terms like
"relapsing." HESI A2 expects precise understanding of such clinical descriptors.
Question 3
What does the term adverse imply when discussing medication effects?
,A. Beneficial and expected
B. Unfavorable or harmful
C. Neutral and temporary
D. Long-lasting and therapeutic
B. Unfavorable or harmful
Rationale: "Adverse" describes undesirable or harmful side effects of medications, as seen in
phrases like "adverse reaction." This aligns with HESI A2’s focus on patient safety terminology.
Option A refers to therapeutic effects, C is too vague, and D contradicts the negative connotation
of the term.
Question 4
The doctor instructed the patient to remain ambulatory. What does this mean?
A. Bedridden and immobile
B. Able to walk and move
C. Requiring constant supervision
D. Confined to a wheelchair
B. Able to walk and move
Rationale: "Ambulatory" indicates a patient’s ability to walk and move independently, often
used in discharge planning or rehabilitation contexts. HESI A2 tests familiarity with mobility-
related terms. Options A and D imply immobility, and C is unrelated to physical movement.
Question 5
What is the meaning of anterior in anatomical terminology?
A. Toward the back
B. Toward the side
C. Toward the front
D. Toward the midline
C. Toward the front
Rationale: In anatomy, "anterior" refers to the front of the body (e.g., the chest is anterior to the
spine). HESI A2 emphasizes precise anatomical directions. Option A describes "posterior," B
refers to "lateral," and D indicates "medial," making C the correct choice.
Question 6
The term benign in a medical report most likely means:
, A. Non-cancerous and harmless
B. Malignant and aggressive
C. Infectious and contagious
D. Chronic and untreatable
A. Non-cancerous and harmless
Rationale: "Benign" describes a condition or growth that is not cancerous and poses minimal
harm, commonly used in oncology reports. HESI A2 tests recognition of pathology terms.
Option B refers to "malignant," C is unrelated, and D misaligns with the term’s connotation.
Question 7
What does coagulation refer to in a clinical setting?
A. Blood thinning
B. Blood clotting
C. Blood transfusion
D. Blood filtration
B. Blood clotting
Rationale: "Coagulation" describes the process of blood clot formation, critical in hemostasis
discussions. HESI A2 includes terms related to physiological processes. Option A refers to
anticoagulation, C and D are unrelated to clotting mechanisms.
Question 8
The nurse noted the patient was cyanotic. What does this indicate?
A. Excessive sweating
B. Bluish skin discoloration
C. Yellowing of the skin
D. Redness and warmth
B. Bluish skin discoloration
Rationale: "Cyanotic" describes a bluish tint to the skin due to poor oxygenation, often seen in
respiratory or cardiac conditions. HESI A2 tests recognition of clinical signs. Option C refers to
jaundice, D to erythema, and A is unrelated.
Question 9
What does the term distal mean in relation to anatomy?
