HESI A2 Entrance Exam | Updated 2026 Edition | Practice
Questions, Accurate Answers & Detailed Rationales | Complete
Study Guide | Instant PDF
1. A nurse is assessing a patient who has been experiencing a fever that
fluctuates significantly throughout the day, with temperatures rising and
falling rapidly. The nurse documents this finding in the medical record.
A) The patient's temperature is stable and consistent
B) The patient's temperature is labile, requiring frequent monitoring
C) The patient's temperature is chronic and long-lasting
D) The patient's temperature is static and unchanging
Correct Answer: B) The patient's temperature is labile, requiring frequent
monitoring
Rationale: Labile means apt or likely to change, changing quickly. When a
patient's fever fluctuates significantly, it is described as labile and requires
frequent monitoring to track these rapid changes in temperature.
2. A physician is explaining to a patient that their cancer likely began
developing years ago but was not detected because it progressed so gradually
without obvious symptoms.
,A) The physician explains that the cancer's spread was insidious
B) The physician explains that the cancer's spread was overt
C) The physician explains that the cancer's spread was acute
D) The physician explains that the cancer's spread was benign
Correct Answer: A) The physician explains that the cancer's spread was
insidious
Rationale: Insidious means dangerous, treacherous, so gradual as to not become
apparent for a long time. This term perfectly describes a disease process that
progresses slowly and subtly without being detected until significant damage
has occurred.
3. A nursing student is studying how fluids move across cell membranes and
learns about the process where water passes through a semi-permeable
membrane from an area of higher concentration to lower concentration.
A) This process is called osmosis
B) This process is called diffusion
C) This process is called filtration
D) This process is called active transport
Correct Answer: A) This process is called osmosis
Rationale: Osmosis is the process of fluid passing through a semi-permeable
membrane from higher to lower concentration. This is a fundamental concept in
understanding fluid balance in the human body.
,4. A patient who has been taking a new medication for hypertension develops
vomiting and the nurse notes this as an undesired response to the treatment.
A) The nurse documents this as a therapeutic effect
B) The nurse documents this as an adverse effect
C) The nurse documents this as a prophylactic effect
D) The nurse documents this as a synergistic effect
Correct Answer: B) The nurse documents this as an adverse effect
Rationale: Adverse means unfavorable, undesired, possibly harmful. Vomiting is
an adverse effect of many medications, representing an unwanted response to
treatment that may require intervention or medication adjustment.
5. A paramedic observes that a patient's blood pressure has decreased
significantly and notes that the heart rate has increased in response to
maintain adequate circulation.
A) The paramedic recognizes this as a pathological response
B) The paramedic recognizes this as a compensatory action
C) The paramedic recognizes this as a degenerative change
D) The paramedic recognizes this as a spontaneous reaction
Correct Answer: B) The paramedic recognizes this as a compensatory action
Rationale: Compensatory means offsetting or making up for something. When
blood pressure decreases, the body compensates by increasing heart rate to
, maintain cardiac output and tissue perfusion, representing a protective
physiological mechanism.
6. A nurse is caring for a patient with diabetes who requires insulin because
their body cannot produce enough naturally. The nurse explains the difference
between endogenous and exogenous insulin.
A) Endogenous insulin is produced by the pancreas, while exogenous insulin comes
from outside the body
B) Endogenous insulin comes from injections, while exogenous insulin is naturally
produced
C) Endogenous insulin is less effective than exogenous insulin
D) Endogenous insulin is only used for Type 1 diabetes
Correct Answer: A) Endogenous insulin is produced by the pancreas, while
exogenous insulin comes from outside the body
Rationale: Endogenous means occurring or resulting from within the body, such
as insulin produced by the pancreas. Exogenous means occurring or resulting
from outside the body, such as insulin administered through injections for
patients with diabetes.
7. A nursing instructor is teaching students about infection control and explains
that certain microorganisms have the ability to cause disease in humans.
Questions, Accurate Answers & Detailed Rationales | Complete
Study Guide | Instant PDF
1. A nurse is assessing a patient who has been experiencing a fever that
fluctuates significantly throughout the day, with temperatures rising and
falling rapidly. The nurse documents this finding in the medical record.
A) The patient's temperature is stable and consistent
B) The patient's temperature is labile, requiring frequent monitoring
C) The patient's temperature is chronic and long-lasting
D) The patient's temperature is static and unchanging
Correct Answer: B) The patient's temperature is labile, requiring frequent
monitoring
Rationale: Labile means apt or likely to change, changing quickly. When a
patient's fever fluctuates significantly, it is described as labile and requires
frequent monitoring to track these rapid changes in temperature.
2. A physician is explaining to a patient that their cancer likely began
developing years ago but was not detected because it progressed so gradually
without obvious symptoms.
,A) The physician explains that the cancer's spread was insidious
B) The physician explains that the cancer's spread was overt
C) The physician explains that the cancer's spread was acute
D) The physician explains that the cancer's spread was benign
Correct Answer: A) The physician explains that the cancer's spread was
insidious
Rationale: Insidious means dangerous, treacherous, so gradual as to not become
apparent for a long time. This term perfectly describes a disease process that
progresses slowly and subtly without being detected until significant damage
has occurred.
3. A nursing student is studying how fluids move across cell membranes and
learns about the process where water passes through a semi-permeable
membrane from an area of higher concentration to lower concentration.
A) This process is called osmosis
B) This process is called diffusion
C) This process is called filtration
D) This process is called active transport
Correct Answer: A) This process is called osmosis
Rationale: Osmosis is the process of fluid passing through a semi-permeable
membrane from higher to lower concentration. This is a fundamental concept in
understanding fluid balance in the human body.
,4. A patient who has been taking a new medication for hypertension develops
vomiting and the nurse notes this as an undesired response to the treatment.
A) The nurse documents this as a therapeutic effect
B) The nurse documents this as an adverse effect
C) The nurse documents this as a prophylactic effect
D) The nurse documents this as a synergistic effect
Correct Answer: B) The nurse documents this as an adverse effect
Rationale: Adverse means unfavorable, undesired, possibly harmful. Vomiting is
an adverse effect of many medications, representing an unwanted response to
treatment that may require intervention or medication adjustment.
5. A paramedic observes that a patient's blood pressure has decreased
significantly and notes that the heart rate has increased in response to
maintain adequate circulation.
A) The paramedic recognizes this as a pathological response
B) The paramedic recognizes this as a compensatory action
C) The paramedic recognizes this as a degenerative change
D) The paramedic recognizes this as a spontaneous reaction
Correct Answer: B) The paramedic recognizes this as a compensatory action
Rationale: Compensatory means offsetting or making up for something. When
blood pressure decreases, the body compensates by increasing heart rate to
, maintain cardiac output and tissue perfusion, representing a protective
physiological mechanism.
6. A nurse is caring for a patient with diabetes who requires insulin because
their body cannot produce enough naturally. The nurse explains the difference
between endogenous and exogenous insulin.
A) Endogenous insulin is produced by the pancreas, while exogenous insulin comes
from outside the body
B) Endogenous insulin comes from injections, while exogenous insulin is naturally
produced
C) Endogenous insulin is less effective than exogenous insulin
D) Endogenous insulin is only used for Type 1 diabetes
Correct Answer: A) Endogenous insulin is produced by the pancreas, while
exogenous insulin comes from outside the body
Rationale: Endogenous means occurring or resulting from within the body, such
as insulin produced by the pancreas. Exogenous means occurring or resulting
from outside the body, such as insulin administered through injections for
patients with diabetes.
7. A nursing instructor is teaching students about infection control and explains
that certain microorganisms have the ability to cause disease in humans.
