HESI A2 ENTRANCE EXAM VOCABULARY REVIEW 2025–2026 COMPLETE MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY,
NURSING DEFINITIONS, DOSAGE CONVERSIONS, AND PRACTICE STUDY GUIDE
1. virulence: the ability to produce disease
2. efface: to wipe out, to rub out, do away with; (medical) the thinning of the cervix during labor
3. ubiquitous: omnipresent, existing or being everywhere
4. osmosis: process of fluid passing through semi-permeable membrane from higher to lower concentration
5. 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.
6. febrile: having or showing symptoms of a fever
7. dynamic: energetic, lively
8. 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.
9. empathy: understanding another's pain, suttering alongside someone else
10. anticipatory: showing anticipation, looking forward to
11. ominous: threatening, menacing
12. preferred: to set above or hold above another, to like better than another
13. acute: sharp, intense, coming about quickly
14. chronic: (medical) refers to a disease or condition that is long-lasting and reoccurring
15. exploratory: (medical) refers to a surgery or procedure used to diagnose a disease or condition but not
treat it
16. recessive: (genetics) A trait or a gene that can be dominated by another (dominant) trait or gene
17. assent: To agree (not the same as ascend, to go up or higher), to give consent
18. toxic: poisonous
19. subjective data: (medical) Symptoms. Information that is apparent only to the person attected; that
person is the only one who can verify it. Examples are pain, fear, and itching.
20. 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.
21. effect: more often used as a noun, meaning result or outcome
22. 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.
23. overt: in the open, clearly visible, not hidden
24. anterior: toward the front
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, HESI A2 ENTRANCE EXAM VOCABULARY REVIEW 2025–2026 COMPLETE MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY,
NURSING DEFINITIONS, DOSAGE CONVERSIONS, AND PRACTICE STUDY GUIDE
25. 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.
26. rigidity: stittness, the stat of not being flexible
27. persecute: to harass or annoy constantly
28. longevity: long life
29. impervious: cannot be penetrated or attected
30. distension: swollen and protruding out further than normal
31. ambivalent: uncertain, having contradictory feelings, unable to make a decision between two conflicting
choices
32. patent: (medical) Pronounced with a long a ̅, refers to something tube-shaped that is open and unblocked
(such as an artery)
33. potent: powerful, producing a strong ettect
-the medicine was very potent and it immediately relieved the pateint pain
34. adhere: to stick to, either literally or figuratively (to adhere to the wall); to adhere to a strict diet
35. euthanasia: referred to as a "mercy killing," to choose to end the life of someone who is terminally ill
36. prognosis: predicting the likely outcome of an illness
37. antigen: a foreign substance that causes the immune system to make antibodies against it
38. abstain: to voluntarily refrain from
39. incidence: the rate at which something occurs, such as injuries or illnesses
40. hydrophilic: attracted to water ("water loving")
41. hydrophobic: not attracted to water or water-repelling ("fear of water")
42. occluded: blocked, closed; the opposite of patent
-Because the patient foot was cold and blue the nurse reported that the patient circulation to the foot was occluded.
43. precipitous: (medical) a sudden and dramatic change for the worse
44. vital: necessary for the maintenance of life; essential
45. ingest: to take into the body by the mouth for digestion
46. proscribe: to forbid
47. prescribe: recommend or authorize the use of
48. supplement: something that is added in order to make up for something that is lacking or missing
49. paroxysm: a violent seizure; or something that begins suddenly and uncontrollably
50. carniore: meat-eater
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NURSING DEFINITIONS, DOSAGE CONVERSIONS, AND PRACTICE STUDY GUIDE
1. virulence: the ability to produce disease
2. efface: to wipe out, to rub out, do away with; (medical) the thinning of the cervix during labor
3. ubiquitous: omnipresent, existing or being everywhere
4. osmosis: process of fluid passing through semi-permeable membrane from higher to lower concentration
5. 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.
6. febrile: having or showing symptoms of a fever
7. dynamic: energetic, lively
8. 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.
9. empathy: understanding another's pain, suttering alongside someone else
10. anticipatory: showing anticipation, looking forward to
11. ominous: threatening, menacing
12. preferred: to set above or hold above another, to like better than another
13. acute: sharp, intense, coming about quickly
14. chronic: (medical) refers to a disease or condition that is long-lasting and reoccurring
15. exploratory: (medical) refers to a surgery or procedure used to diagnose a disease or condition but not
treat it
16. recessive: (genetics) A trait or a gene that can be dominated by another (dominant) trait or gene
17. assent: To agree (not the same as ascend, to go up or higher), to give consent
18. toxic: poisonous
19. subjective data: (medical) Symptoms. Information that is apparent only to the person attected; that
person is the only one who can verify it. Examples are pain, fear, and itching.
20. 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.
21. effect: more often used as a noun, meaning result or outcome
22. 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.
23. overt: in the open, clearly visible, not hidden
24. anterior: toward the front
1/9
, HESI A2 ENTRANCE EXAM VOCABULARY REVIEW 2025–2026 COMPLETE MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY,
NURSING DEFINITIONS, DOSAGE CONVERSIONS, AND PRACTICE STUDY GUIDE
25. 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.
26. rigidity: stittness, the stat of not being flexible
27. persecute: to harass or annoy constantly
28. longevity: long life
29. impervious: cannot be penetrated or attected
30. distension: swollen and protruding out further than normal
31. ambivalent: uncertain, having contradictory feelings, unable to make a decision between two conflicting
choices
32. patent: (medical) Pronounced with a long a ̅, refers to something tube-shaped that is open and unblocked
(such as an artery)
33. potent: powerful, producing a strong ettect
-the medicine was very potent and it immediately relieved the pateint pain
34. adhere: to stick to, either literally or figuratively (to adhere to the wall); to adhere to a strict diet
35. euthanasia: referred to as a "mercy killing," to choose to end the life of someone who is terminally ill
36. prognosis: predicting the likely outcome of an illness
37. antigen: a foreign substance that causes the immune system to make antibodies against it
38. abstain: to voluntarily refrain from
39. incidence: the rate at which something occurs, such as injuries or illnesses
40. hydrophilic: attracted to water ("water loving")
41. hydrophobic: not attracted to water or water-repelling ("fear of water")
42. occluded: blocked, closed; the opposite of patent
-Because the patient foot was cold and blue the nurse reported that the patient circulation to the foot was occluded.
43. precipitous: (medical) a sudden and dramatic change for the worse
44. vital: necessary for the maintenance of life; essential
45. ingest: to take into the body by the mouth for digestion
46. proscribe: to forbid
47. prescribe: recommend or authorize the use of
48. supplement: something that is added in order to make up for something that is lacking or missing
49. paroxysm: a violent seizure; or something that begins suddenly and uncontrollably
50. carniore: meat-eater
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