HESI A2 Entrance
Exam
HESI VOCABULARY
Abstain To voluntarily refrain from Constrict To draw together or become
something. smaller.
Accountable To be responsible. Contingent Dependent.
Acute Sudden, intense. Contraindication A reason something is not
advisable.
Adhere To hold fast or stick together. Convulsive Having or causing shaking of the
body.
Adverse Undesired, possibly harmful. Cursory Quick, perfunctory, not thorough.
Ambivalent Uncertain, having contradictory Defecate Expel feces.
feelings.
Ambulate To walk. Deficit A lack of something.
Apply To place, put on, or spread Depress Press downwards.
something.
Assent To give consent, to agree. Depth Downward measurement from
surface.
Audible Able to be heard. Deteriorating Worsening
Bacteria Single-celled, microscopic Diagnosis Identification of an injury or
organization. disease.
Bilateral Present on two sides. Diffuse Spread over a large area;
generalized.
Cardiac Of or relating to the heart. Dilate To enlarge or expand.
Cavity An opening or an empty area. Dilute To make a liquid less concentrated.
Cease Come to or bring to an end. Discrete Distinct, separate.
Chronic Lasting or recurring over a long Distal Distant; away from the center
period of time. (such as of the body)
Chronology Order of events as they Distended Enlarged or expanded from
occurred; timeline. pressure.
Compensator Offsetting or making up for Dysfunction Impaired or abnormal functioning.
y something.
Concave Rounded inward. Empathy Ability to share what others are
feeling.
Concise Brief, to the point. Equilibrium Balance.
Congenital Present at birth. Etiology The origin or cause of a
disease or condition.
Consistency How thick or thin a liquid is in Exacerbate To make worse or more severe.
relation to how it flows
Exposure To come into contact. Lateral On the side.
Extension Lengthening; unbending a joint. Lethargic Difficult to arouse
Fatal Resulting in death. Manifestation An indication or sign of a condition.
Fatigue Extreme tiredness, exhaustion. Musculoskeletal Of or relating to muscle and
,skeleton.
,Febrile Related to or caused by a fever. Neurologic Of or relating to the nervous
system.
Flexion Bending a joint. Neurovascular Of or relating to the nervous
system and the blood vessels.
Flushed Reddened or ruddy appearance. Nutrient Substance that provides
nourishment.
Gastrointesti Of or relating to the stomach Occluded Closed or obstructed.
n al and the intestines.
Hematologic Of or relating to blood. Ongoing Continuous.
Hydration Maintenance of body fluid balance. Oral Given through or affecting the
mouth.
Hygiene Measures contributing to Otic Of the ear.
cleanliness and good health.
Impaired Diminished or lacking some usual Parameter A characteristic or constant factor,
quality or level. limit.
Impending Occuring in the near future. Patent Open.
Imply To suggest without explicitly stating. Pathogenic Causing or able to cause disease.
Incidence Occurrence. Pathology Processes, causes, and effects of a
disease; abnormality.
Infection Contamination or invasion of body Posterior Located behind; in the back.
tissue by pathogenic organism.
Infer To conclude or deduce. Potent Producing a strong effect.
Inflamed Reddened, swollen, warm, and Potential Capable of occurring or likely to
tender. occur.
Ingest To swallow for digestion. Precaution Preventative measure.
Initiate To begin or put into practice. Precipitous Rapid, uncontrolled.
Insidious So gradual as to not become Predispose To make more susceptible or
apparent for a long time. more likely to occur.
Intact In place, unharmed. Preexisting Already present.
Intubate To insert a tube into something. Primary First or most significant.
Invasive Inserting or entering into a body Priority Of great importance.
part.
Kinetic Of or relating to movement. Prognosis The anticipated or expected
course or outcome.
Labile Changing rapidly and often. Rationale The underlying reason.
Laceration Cut; tear. Recur To occur again.
Latent Present but not active or visible. Syndrome Symptoms that, when together,
reflect a specific disease or
disorder.
Renal Of or relating to the kidneys. Therapeutic Of or relating to the
treatment of a disease or
disorder.
Residual Remaining, continuing. Toxic Causing harm, poisonous.
Respiration Inhalation and exhalation of air. Transdermal Crossing through the skin.
, Retain To hold or keep. Transmission Transfer from one person to
another.
Status Condition. Trauma Injury, wound.
Subcutaneou Under the skin. Triage Assign degree of urgency/priority
s based on severity of condition.
Sublingual Under the tongue. Ubiquitous Seeming to be everywhere at once.
Supplement To take in addition to or to complete. Urinate Excrete or expel urine.
Suppress To stop or subdue. Vascular Of or relating to the blood vessels.
Symmetric Being equal or the same in size, Virulent Extremely harmful and severe.
shape, and relative position.
Symptom An indication of a problem. Virus Microscopic infectious agent
capable of replicating only in
living cells.
Vital Essential. Volume Amount of space occupied by a
fluid.
These are questions that have been on the test in May 2020 or later!
*Highlighted are the terms (not descriptions) to know.*
These are based on memory of the test takers, so they are not exactly as seen on the
test.
1. The lower surface of a structure is referred to as ... INFERIOR
2. Injurious? TOXIC
3. Equilibrium? SENSE OF BALANCE
4. Site? LOCATION
5. The patient gave his Assent? AGREEMENT
6.The technician wore gloves as precaution? PREVENTIVE MEASURE
7. The of his right eye was damaged. LENS ( correct word usage)
8. The inebriated man staggered while walking to his car. STUMBLE
9. The nurse noticed an ominous sign? Dangerous
10. A well known person, with connotation of infamy, is most likely? NOTORIOUS
11. In health field, the act of urinating is? VOIDING
12. The maintenance of adequate hydration? FLUID BALANCE
13. Acute? SEVERE
14. What term means to suggest, to hint, to express indirectly? IMPLY ( it's not infer)
15. Labile? UNSTABLE
16. The nurse checked for any patency in drainage of all devices? OPEN
17. What term means to bring about, cause to happen, to accomplish, and to make? EFFECT
18. Exhilarating ? REFRESHING
19. Place under observation? SURVEILLANCE
20. Ingest? SWALLOW
21. What term means unruly, intractable, adverse? UNTOWARD
22. He had three discrete symptoms? SEPARATE
23. Contemplate? PONDERING
Exam
HESI VOCABULARY
Abstain To voluntarily refrain from Constrict To draw together or become
something. smaller.
Accountable To be responsible. Contingent Dependent.
Acute Sudden, intense. Contraindication A reason something is not
advisable.
Adhere To hold fast or stick together. Convulsive Having or causing shaking of the
body.
Adverse Undesired, possibly harmful. Cursory Quick, perfunctory, not thorough.
Ambivalent Uncertain, having contradictory Defecate Expel feces.
feelings.
Ambulate To walk. Deficit A lack of something.
Apply To place, put on, or spread Depress Press downwards.
something.
Assent To give consent, to agree. Depth Downward measurement from
surface.
Audible Able to be heard. Deteriorating Worsening
Bacteria Single-celled, microscopic Diagnosis Identification of an injury or
organization. disease.
Bilateral Present on two sides. Diffuse Spread over a large area;
generalized.
Cardiac Of or relating to the heart. Dilate To enlarge or expand.
Cavity An opening or an empty area. Dilute To make a liquid less concentrated.
Cease Come to or bring to an end. Discrete Distinct, separate.
Chronic Lasting or recurring over a long Distal Distant; away from the center
period of time. (such as of the body)
Chronology Order of events as they Distended Enlarged or expanded from
occurred; timeline. pressure.
Compensator Offsetting or making up for Dysfunction Impaired or abnormal functioning.
y something.
Concave Rounded inward. Empathy Ability to share what others are
feeling.
Concise Brief, to the point. Equilibrium Balance.
Congenital Present at birth. Etiology The origin or cause of a
disease or condition.
Consistency How thick or thin a liquid is in Exacerbate To make worse or more severe.
relation to how it flows
Exposure To come into contact. Lateral On the side.
Extension Lengthening; unbending a joint. Lethargic Difficult to arouse
Fatal Resulting in death. Manifestation An indication or sign of a condition.
Fatigue Extreme tiredness, exhaustion. Musculoskeletal Of or relating to muscle and
,skeleton.
,Febrile Related to or caused by a fever. Neurologic Of or relating to the nervous
system.
Flexion Bending a joint. Neurovascular Of or relating to the nervous
system and the blood vessels.
Flushed Reddened or ruddy appearance. Nutrient Substance that provides
nourishment.
Gastrointesti Of or relating to the stomach Occluded Closed or obstructed.
n al and the intestines.
Hematologic Of or relating to blood. Ongoing Continuous.
Hydration Maintenance of body fluid balance. Oral Given through or affecting the
mouth.
Hygiene Measures contributing to Otic Of the ear.
cleanliness and good health.
Impaired Diminished or lacking some usual Parameter A characteristic or constant factor,
quality or level. limit.
Impending Occuring in the near future. Patent Open.
Imply To suggest without explicitly stating. Pathogenic Causing or able to cause disease.
Incidence Occurrence. Pathology Processes, causes, and effects of a
disease; abnormality.
Infection Contamination or invasion of body Posterior Located behind; in the back.
tissue by pathogenic organism.
Infer To conclude or deduce. Potent Producing a strong effect.
Inflamed Reddened, swollen, warm, and Potential Capable of occurring or likely to
tender. occur.
Ingest To swallow for digestion. Precaution Preventative measure.
Initiate To begin or put into practice. Precipitous Rapid, uncontrolled.
Insidious So gradual as to not become Predispose To make more susceptible or
apparent for a long time. more likely to occur.
Intact In place, unharmed. Preexisting Already present.
Intubate To insert a tube into something. Primary First or most significant.
Invasive Inserting or entering into a body Priority Of great importance.
part.
Kinetic Of or relating to movement. Prognosis The anticipated or expected
course or outcome.
Labile Changing rapidly and often. Rationale The underlying reason.
Laceration Cut; tear. Recur To occur again.
Latent Present but not active or visible. Syndrome Symptoms that, when together,
reflect a specific disease or
disorder.
Renal Of or relating to the kidneys. Therapeutic Of or relating to the
treatment of a disease or
disorder.
Residual Remaining, continuing. Toxic Causing harm, poisonous.
Respiration Inhalation and exhalation of air. Transdermal Crossing through the skin.
, Retain To hold or keep. Transmission Transfer from one person to
another.
Status Condition. Trauma Injury, wound.
Subcutaneou Under the skin. Triage Assign degree of urgency/priority
s based on severity of condition.
Sublingual Under the tongue. Ubiquitous Seeming to be everywhere at once.
Supplement To take in addition to or to complete. Urinate Excrete or expel urine.
Suppress To stop or subdue. Vascular Of or relating to the blood vessels.
Symmetric Being equal or the same in size, Virulent Extremely harmful and severe.
shape, and relative position.
Symptom An indication of a problem. Virus Microscopic infectious agent
capable of replicating only in
living cells.
Vital Essential. Volume Amount of space occupied by a
fluid.
These are questions that have been on the test in May 2020 or later!
*Highlighted are the terms (not descriptions) to know.*
These are based on memory of the test takers, so they are not exactly as seen on the
test.
1. The lower surface of a structure is referred to as ... INFERIOR
2. Injurious? TOXIC
3. Equilibrium? SENSE OF BALANCE
4. Site? LOCATION
5. The patient gave his Assent? AGREEMENT
6.The technician wore gloves as precaution? PREVENTIVE MEASURE
7. The of his right eye was damaged. LENS ( correct word usage)
8. The inebriated man staggered while walking to his car. STUMBLE
9. The nurse noticed an ominous sign? Dangerous
10. A well known person, with connotation of infamy, is most likely? NOTORIOUS
11. In health field, the act of urinating is? VOIDING
12. The maintenance of adequate hydration? FLUID BALANCE
13. Acute? SEVERE
14. What term means to suggest, to hint, to express indirectly? IMPLY ( it's not infer)
15. Labile? UNSTABLE
16. The nurse checked for any patency in drainage of all devices? OPEN
17. What term means to bring about, cause to happen, to accomplish, and to make? EFFECT
18. Exhilarating ? REFRESHING
19. Place under observation? SURVEILLANCE
20. Ingest? SWALLOW
21. What term means unruly, intractable, adverse? UNTOWARD
22. He had three discrete symptoms? SEPARATE
23. Contemplate? PONDERING
