HESI A2 ENTRANCE EXAM WITH 200 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES/ HESI LEADERSHIP EXAM PREP TEST BANK LATEST (NEW!)
Question 1
The nurse notes that the pathogen has high virulence. What does this term refer to?
A) The size of the bacteria
B) The ability to produce disease
C) The speed of the spread
D) The resistance to antibiotics
E) The color of the specimen
Correct Answer: B) the ability to produce disease
Rationale: Virulence describes the severity or harmfulness of a disease or poison. In a
medical context, it specifically refers to how effective a pathogen is at causing a disease
state in a host.
Question 2
During the assessment of a laboring patient, the nurse notes that the cervix has begun to efface.
What is happening to the cervix?
A) It is opening wider
B) It is becoming thicker
C) It is thinning out
D) It is becoming infected
E) It is moving to the posterior position
Correct Answer: C) the thinning of the cervix during labor
Rationale: In obstetrics, effacement refers to the process by which the cervix prepares for
delivery by softening, shortening, and thinning. Outside of medicine, to efface means to
wipe out or erase.
Question 3
The doctor mentioned that microbes are ubiquitous in the hospital environment. What does
ubiquitous mean?
A) Dangerous and deadly
B) Hard to find
C) Existing everywhere
D) Only found in sterile fields
E) Highly contagious
Correct Answer: C) existing or being everywhere
Rationale: Something that is ubiquitous is omnipresent. In a clinical setting, it refers to the
fact that bacteria and viruses are present on nearly all surfaces.
Question 4
Which process describes fluid passing through a semi-permeable membrane from a higher
concentration to a lower concentration?
, 2
A) Digestion
B) Effacement
C) Osmosis
D) Atrophy
E) Distension
Correct Answer: C) osmosis
Rationale: Osmosis is a specific biological and chemical process where solvent molecules
move through a membrane to equalize concentrations on both sides.
Question 5
The nurse instructed the assistant to check the patient's temperature frequently because the fever
was labile. What does labile mean?
A) Dangerously high
B) Likely to change quickly
C) Steady and unchanging
D) Below normal limits
E) Causing chills
Correct Answer: B) likely to change quickly
Rationale: Labile refers to something that is unstable or "apt to change." In medicine, it is
used to describe fluctuating vital signs or moods.
Question 6
A patient is described as being febrile. Which of the following is most likely true?
A) The patient has an infection
B) The patient is having trouble breathing
C) The patient has a fever
D) The patient is unable to walk
E) The patient is very thirsty
Correct Answer: C) having or showing symptoms of a fever
Rationale: Febrile is the medical adjective for feverish. It comes from the Latin "febris,"
meaning fever.
Question 7
The physical therapy department wants to keep the patients dynamic. What is the definition of
dynamic?
A) Quiet and resting
B) Stiff and rigid
C) Energetic and lively
D) Sluggish
E) Cooperative
Correct Answer: C) energetic, lively
, 3
Rationale: Dynamic describes a process or system characterized by constant change,
activity, or progress. In patients, it refers to being active and moving.
Question 8
The doctor explained that the cancer had not been detected for years because its spread
was insidious. What does insidious mean?
A) Rapid and aggressive
B) Painful
C) So gradual as to not become apparent for a long time
D) Highly visible on an X-ray
E) Restricted to one organ
Correct Answer: C) so gradual as to not become apparent for a long time
Rationale: Insidious diseases (like certain cancers or glaucoma) develop so slowly and subtly
that the patient does not realize anything is wrong until the condition is advanced.
Question 9
The nurse showed great empathy for the grieving family. What is the definition of empathy?
A) Feeling sorry for someone
B) Understanding another's pain and suffering alongside them
C) Giving professional advice
D) Ignoring the situation to remain professional
E) Documenting the family's reaction
Correct Answer: B) understanding another's pain, suffering alongside someone else
Rationale: Unlike sympathy (feeling for someone), empathy is the ability to understand and
share the feelings of another (feeling with someone).
Question 10
The patient’s family had an anticipatory look as the surgeon walked into the waiting room.
What does anticipatory mean?
A) Fearful or scared
B) Showing anticipation or looking forward to
C) Angry and upset
D) Bored and tired
E) Confused
Correct Answer: B) showing anticipation, looking forward to
Rationale: Anticipatory refers to a state of expectation or looking forward to an event or
piece of information.
Question 11
A dark cloud on a patient’s X-ray was considered an ominous sign. What does ominous mean?
A) Positive and hopeful
, 4
B) Threatening or menacing
C) Small and insignificant
D) Related to the lungs
E) Indistinct
Correct Answer: B) threatening, menacing
Rationale: Ominous suggests that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen. It is
derived from the word "omen."
Question 12
The nurse preferred the use of digital thermometers over glass ones. What does preferred mean?
A) To dislike
B) To set above or hold above another; to like better
C) To use only once
D) To be afraid of
E) To suggest to others
Correct Answer: B) to set above or hold above another, to like better than another
Rationale: Preference involves choosing one option over another based on favor or utility.
Question 13
The patient complained of acute pain in the right abdomen. What does acute mean?
A) Dull and aching
B) Long-lasting
C) Sharp, intense, and coming about quickly
D) Related to the skin
E) Intermittent
Correct Answer: C) sharp, intense, coming about quickly
Rationale: In medical terms, acute is the opposite of chronic. It describes a condition that
has a rapid onset and severe symptoms.
Question 14
Diabetes is considered a chronic condition. What does chronic mean?
A) Curable with antibiotics
B) Infectious and contagious
C) Long-lasting and reoccurring
D) Temporary
E) Only affecting older adults
Correct Answer: C) refers to a disease or condition that is long-lasting and reoccurring
Rationale: Chronic conditions (like asthma or diabetes) persist for a long period, usually
three months or more, and generally cannot be prevented by vaccines or cured by
medication.
RATIONALES/ HESI LEADERSHIP EXAM PREP TEST BANK LATEST (NEW!)
Question 1
The nurse notes that the pathogen has high virulence. What does this term refer to?
A) The size of the bacteria
B) The ability to produce disease
C) The speed of the spread
D) The resistance to antibiotics
E) The color of the specimen
Correct Answer: B) the ability to produce disease
Rationale: Virulence describes the severity or harmfulness of a disease or poison. In a
medical context, it specifically refers to how effective a pathogen is at causing a disease
state in a host.
Question 2
During the assessment of a laboring patient, the nurse notes that the cervix has begun to efface.
What is happening to the cervix?
A) It is opening wider
B) It is becoming thicker
C) It is thinning out
D) It is becoming infected
E) It is moving to the posterior position
Correct Answer: C) the thinning of the cervix during labor
Rationale: In obstetrics, effacement refers to the process by which the cervix prepares for
delivery by softening, shortening, and thinning. Outside of medicine, to efface means to
wipe out or erase.
Question 3
The doctor mentioned that microbes are ubiquitous in the hospital environment. What does
ubiquitous mean?
A) Dangerous and deadly
B) Hard to find
C) Existing everywhere
D) Only found in sterile fields
E) Highly contagious
Correct Answer: C) existing or being everywhere
Rationale: Something that is ubiquitous is omnipresent. In a clinical setting, it refers to the
fact that bacteria and viruses are present on nearly all surfaces.
Question 4
Which process describes fluid passing through a semi-permeable membrane from a higher
concentration to a lower concentration?
, 2
A) Digestion
B) Effacement
C) Osmosis
D) Atrophy
E) Distension
Correct Answer: C) osmosis
Rationale: Osmosis is a specific biological and chemical process where solvent molecules
move through a membrane to equalize concentrations on both sides.
Question 5
The nurse instructed the assistant to check the patient's temperature frequently because the fever
was labile. What does labile mean?
A) Dangerously high
B) Likely to change quickly
C) Steady and unchanging
D) Below normal limits
E) Causing chills
Correct Answer: B) likely to change quickly
Rationale: Labile refers to something that is unstable or "apt to change." In medicine, it is
used to describe fluctuating vital signs or moods.
Question 6
A patient is described as being febrile. Which of the following is most likely true?
A) The patient has an infection
B) The patient is having trouble breathing
C) The patient has a fever
D) The patient is unable to walk
E) The patient is very thirsty
Correct Answer: C) having or showing symptoms of a fever
Rationale: Febrile is the medical adjective for feverish. It comes from the Latin "febris,"
meaning fever.
Question 7
The physical therapy department wants to keep the patients dynamic. What is the definition of
dynamic?
A) Quiet and resting
B) Stiff and rigid
C) Energetic and lively
D) Sluggish
E) Cooperative
Correct Answer: C) energetic, lively
, 3
Rationale: Dynamic describes a process or system characterized by constant change,
activity, or progress. In patients, it refers to being active and moving.
Question 8
The doctor explained that the cancer had not been detected for years because its spread
was insidious. What does insidious mean?
A) Rapid and aggressive
B) Painful
C) So gradual as to not become apparent for a long time
D) Highly visible on an X-ray
E) Restricted to one organ
Correct Answer: C) so gradual as to not become apparent for a long time
Rationale: Insidious diseases (like certain cancers or glaucoma) develop so slowly and subtly
that the patient does not realize anything is wrong until the condition is advanced.
Question 9
The nurse showed great empathy for the grieving family. What is the definition of empathy?
A) Feeling sorry for someone
B) Understanding another's pain and suffering alongside them
C) Giving professional advice
D) Ignoring the situation to remain professional
E) Documenting the family's reaction
Correct Answer: B) understanding another's pain, suffering alongside someone else
Rationale: Unlike sympathy (feeling for someone), empathy is the ability to understand and
share the feelings of another (feeling with someone).
Question 10
The patient’s family had an anticipatory look as the surgeon walked into the waiting room.
What does anticipatory mean?
A) Fearful or scared
B) Showing anticipation or looking forward to
C) Angry and upset
D) Bored and tired
E) Confused
Correct Answer: B) showing anticipation, looking forward to
Rationale: Anticipatory refers to a state of expectation or looking forward to an event or
piece of information.
Question 11
A dark cloud on a patient’s X-ray was considered an ominous sign. What does ominous mean?
A) Positive and hopeful
, 4
B) Threatening or menacing
C) Small and insignificant
D) Related to the lungs
E) Indistinct
Correct Answer: B) threatening, menacing
Rationale: Ominous suggests that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen. It is
derived from the word "omen."
Question 12
The nurse preferred the use of digital thermometers over glass ones. What does preferred mean?
A) To dislike
B) To set above or hold above another; to like better
C) To use only once
D) To be afraid of
E) To suggest to others
Correct Answer: B) to set above or hold above another, to like better than another
Rationale: Preference involves choosing one option over another based on favor or utility.
Question 13
The patient complained of acute pain in the right abdomen. What does acute mean?
A) Dull and aching
B) Long-lasting
C) Sharp, intense, and coming about quickly
D) Related to the skin
E) Intermittent
Correct Answer: C) sharp, intense, coming about quickly
Rationale: In medical terms, acute is the opposite of chronic. It describes a condition that
has a rapid onset and severe symptoms.
Question 14
Diabetes is considered a chronic condition. What does chronic mean?
A) Curable with antibiotics
B) Infectious and contagious
C) Long-lasting and reoccurring
D) Temporary
E) Only affecting older adults
Correct Answer: C) refers to a disease or condition that is long-lasting and reoccurring
Rationale: Chronic conditions (like asthma or diabetes) persist for a long period, usually
three months or more, and generally cannot be prevented by vaccines or cured by
medication.
