HESI A2 Vocabulary Exam, 2026/2027 –
Healthcare Terminology and Academic Word
Competency Assessment
Section 1: Contextual Meaning in Healthcare
(Questions 1-15)
Question 1: The nurse observed that the patient's edema was transient,
resolving spontaneously within a few hours. What does "transient" mean?
A. Permanent
B. Severe
C. Temporary
D. Painful
Correct Answer: C. Temporary
Rationale: "Transient" means lasting only a short time; temporary or
passing. In healthcare, transient symptoms resolve without permanent
effects (e.g., transient ischemic attack, transient edema). The opposite is
"persistent" or "chronic."
Subtopic: Descriptive Medical Terminology
Question 2: The physician ordered a stat chest x-ray for the patient with
sudden shortness of breath. "Stat" means:
A. Within 24 hours
B. As needed
C. Immediately
D. Before meals
Correct Answer: C. Immediately
,Rationale: "Stat" is derived from the Latin statim, meaning "immediately." It
indicates an urgent order that requires immediate action. "As needed" is
"PRN" (pro re nata). "Before meals" is "AC" (ante cibum).
Subtopic: Medical Abbreviations & Timing
Question 3: The healthcare provider explained that the medication
would alleviate the patient's pain within 30 minutes. "Alleviate" means:
A. Worsen
B. Relieve or reduce
C. Mask
D. Intensify
Correct Answer: B. Relieve or reduce
Rationale: "Alleviate" means to make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem)
less severe. Synonyms include relieve, ease, reduce, and mitigate. In nursing
documentation, this term is used to describe symptom improvement after
intervention.
Subtopic: Symptom Management Terminology
Question 4: The patient's condition remained static despite aggressive
treatment. "Static" means:
A. Improving
B. Worsening
C. Unchanging
D. Fluctuating
Correct Answer: C. Unchanging
Rationale: "Static" means showing little or no change; stationary. In clinical
documentation, "static" indicates no improvement or deterioration.
Synonyms include stable, unchanged, and fixed.
Subtopic: Patient Status Descriptors
, Question 5: The nurse noted purulent drainage coming from the surgical
incision. "Purulent" means:
A. Clear
B. Bloody
C. Containing pus
D. Watery
Correct Answer: C. Containing pus
Rationale: "Purulent" refers to drainage containing pus, indicating infection.
Purulent exudate is typically thick, yellow, green, or brown. The presence of
purulent drainage from a wound suggests bacterial infection requiring
intervention.
Subtopic: Wound Assessment Terminology
Question 6: The medication was administered orally as opposed to
intravenously. "Orally" means:
A. By injection
B. Through the mouth
C. Through the skin
D. By inhalation
Correct Answer: B. Through the mouth
Rationale: "Oral" administration means medication is taken by mouth and
swallowed. The term "PO" (from Latin per os) is the medical abbreviation for
oral administration. Other routes include IV (intravenous), IM (intramuscular),
and topical.
Subtopic: Medication Administration Routes
Question 7: The patient was instructed to abstain from eating after
midnight before surgery. "Abstain" means:
A. Increase
Healthcare Terminology and Academic Word
Competency Assessment
Section 1: Contextual Meaning in Healthcare
(Questions 1-15)
Question 1: The nurse observed that the patient's edema was transient,
resolving spontaneously within a few hours. What does "transient" mean?
A. Permanent
B. Severe
C. Temporary
D. Painful
Correct Answer: C. Temporary
Rationale: "Transient" means lasting only a short time; temporary or
passing. In healthcare, transient symptoms resolve without permanent
effects (e.g., transient ischemic attack, transient edema). The opposite is
"persistent" or "chronic."
Subtopic: Descriptive Medical Terminology
Question 2: The physician ordered a stat chest x-ray for the patient with
sudden shortness of breath. "Stat" means:
A. Within 24 hours
B. As needed
C. Immediately
D. Before meals
Correct Answer: C. Immediately
,Rationale: "Stat" is derived from the Latin statim, meaning "immediately." It
indicates an urgent order that requires immediate action. "As needed" is
"PRN" (pro re nata). "Before meals" is "AC" (ante cibum).
Subtopic: Medical Abbreviations & Timing
Question 3: The healthcare provider explained that the medication
would alleviate the patient's pain within 30 minutes. "Alleviate" means:
A. Worsen
B. Relieve or reduce
C. Mask
D. Intensify
Correct Answer: B. Relieve or reduce
Rationale: "Alleviate" means to make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem)
less severe. Synonyms include relieve, ease, reduce, and mitigate. In nursing
documentation, this term is used to describe symptom improvement after
intervention.
Subtopic: Symptom Management Terminology
Question 4: The patient's condition remained static despite aggressive
treatment. "Static" means:
A. Improving
B. Worsening
C. Unchanging
D. Fluctuating
Correct Answer: C. Unchanging
Rationale: "Static" means showing little or no change; stationary. In clinical
documentation, "static" indicates no improvement or deterioration.
Synonyms include stable, unchanged, and fixed.
Subtopic: Patient Status Descriptors
, Question 5: The nurse noted purulent drainage coming from the surgical
incision. "Purulent" means:
A. Clear
B. Bloody
C. Containing pus
D. Watery
Correct Answer: C. Containing pus
Rationale: "Purulent" refers to drainage containing pus, indicating infection.
Purulent exudate is typically thick, yellow, green, or brown. The presence of
purulent drainage from a wound suggests bacterial infection requiring
intervention.
Subtopic: Wound Assessment Terminology
Question 6: The medication was administered orally as opposed to
intravenously. "Orally" means:
A. By injection
B. Through the mouth
C. Through the skin
D. By inhalation
Correct Answer: B. Through the mouth
Rationale: "Oral" administration means medication is taken by mouth and
swallowed. The term "PO" (from Latin per os) is the medical abbreviation for
oral administration. Other routes include IV (intravenous), IM (intramuscular),
and topical.
Subtopic: Medication Administration Routes
Question 7: The patient was instructed to abstain from eating after
midnight before surgery. "Abstain" means:
A. Increase
