1
HESI A2 Exam Bank 2025: 200+ High-
Yield Nursing Abbreviations &
Vocabulary with Rationales
Table of Contents
Sub-topic 1: Common Medical Abbreviations in Clinical Practice.....................2
Sub-topic 2: Essential Medical Terminology Used in Patient Care....................9
Sub-topic 3: Abbreviations and Terms in Diagnostic Testing and Lab Work. . .16
Sub-topic 4: Common Abbreviations and Terms Used in Medication Orders
and Drug Administration................................................................................24
Sub-topic 5: Vital Signs Terminology and Interpretation in Clinical Settings. .31
Sub-topic 6: Abbreviations and Terminology in Body Systems and Disorders39
Sub-topic 7: High-Frequency Abbreviations and Terms in Emergency and
Critical Care Settings.....................................................................................46
Sub-topic 8: Maternal, Newborn, and Pediatric Nursing Terms and
Abbreviations.................................................................................................53
Sub-topic 9: Common Abbreviations and Terms in Mental Health and
Psychiatric Nursing........................................................................................61
Sub-topic 10: Infection Control, Isolation Precautions, and Related
Terminology....................................................................................................68
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Sub-topic 1: Common Medical Abbreviations
in Clinical Practice
(Questions 1–20)
1. What does the abbreviation "NPO" mean in medical terms?
A. Not properly observed
B. No patient orientation
C. Nothing by mouth
D. Normal per os
Rationale:
C. Nothing by mouth is correct. "NPO" stands for "nil per os," Latin for
“nothing by mouth,” and is used to instruct that a patient should not take
anything orally.
2. A medication order reads "q4h." What does this mean?
A. Take four times daily
B. Take every 4 hours
C. Administer every 4 hours
D. Administer four hours before meals
Rationale:
C. Administer every 4 hours is correct. "q" means "every" and "h" means
"hour(s)," so "q4h" means every 4 hours.
3. The abbreviation "PRN" refers to:
A. Daily use
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B. Every hour
C. As needed
D. Before meals
Rationale:
C. As needed is correct. "PRN" stands for “pro re nata,” meaning “as the
situation arises” or “as needed.”
4. What does "BID" stand for?
A. Before insulin dose
B. Twice a day
C. Three times a day
D. By individual decision
Rationale:
B. Twice a day is correct. "BID" stands for "bis in die" in Latin, meaning twice
daily.
5. "PO" in a medication context means:
A. Patient observation
B. By mouth
C. Post operation
D. Pulse oxygen
Rationale:
B. By mouth is correct. "PO" means “per os,” Latin for “by mouth,” indicating
oral administration.
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6. A nurse reads “STAT” on a medication order. This means the drug should
be given:
A. Immediately
B. Within an hour
C. After meals
D. During next shift
Rationale:
A. Immediately is correct. "STAT" is derived from Latin “statim” meaning “at
once.”
7. What does "hs" mean when referring to a medication schedule?
A. At bedtime
B. Half strength
C. Every hour
D. Hold stat
Rationale:
A. At bedtime is correct. “hs” is shorthand for “hora somni” in Latin, meaning
"at bedtime."
8. Which abbreviation indicates a medication should be given before meals?
A. pc
B. ac
C. po
D. prn
Rationale:
HESI A2 Exam Bank 2025: 200+ High-
Yield Nursing Abbreviations &
Vocabulary with Rationales
Table of Contents
Sub-topic 1: Common Medical Abbreviations in Clinical Practice.....................2
Sub-topic 2: Essential Medical Terminology Used in Patient Care....................9
Sub-topic 3: Abbreviations and Terms in Diagnostic Testing and Lab Work. . .16
Sub-topic 4: Common Abbreviations and Terms Used in Medication Orders
and Drug Administration................................................................................24
Sub-topic 5: Vital Signs Terminology and Interpretation in Clinical Settings. .31
Sub-topic 6: Abbreviations and Terminology in Body Systems and Disorders39
Sub-topic 7: High-Frequency Abbreviations and Terms in Emergency and
Critical Care Settings.....................................................................................46
Sub-topic 8: Maternal, Newborn, and Pediatric Nursing Terms and
Abbreviations.................................................................................................53
Sub-topic 9: Common Abbreviations and Terms in Mental Health and
Psychiatric Nursing........................................................................................61
Sub-topic 10: Infection Control, Isolation Precautions, and Related
Terminology....................................................................................................68
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Sub-topic 1: Common Medical Abbreviations
in Clinical Practice
(Questions 1–20)
1. What does the abbreviation "NPO" mean in medical terms?
A. Not properly observed
B. No patient orientation
C. Nothing by mouth
D. Normal per os
Rationale:
C. Nothing by mouth is correct. "NPO" stands for "nil per os," Latin for
“nothing by mouth,” and is used to instruct that a patient should not take
anything orally.
2. A medication order reads "q4h." What does this mean?
A. Take four times daily
B. Take every 4 hours
C. Administer every 4 hours
D. Administer four hours before meals
Rationale:
C. Administer every 4 hours is correct. "q" means "every" and "h" means
"hour(s)," so "q4h" means every 4 hours.
3. The abbreviation "PRN" refers to:
A. Daily use
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B. Every hour
C. As needed
D. Before meals
Rationale:
C. As needed is correct. "PRN" stands for “pro re nata,” meaning “as the
situation arises” or “as needed.”
4. What does "BID" stand for?
A. Before insulin dose
B. Twice a day
C. Three times a day
D. By individual decision
Rationale:
B. Twice a day is correct. "BID" stands for "bis in die" in Latin, meaning twice
daily.
5. "PO" in a medication context means:
A. Patient observation
B. By mouth
C. Post operation
D. Pulse oxygen
Rationale:
B. By mouth is correct. "PO" means “per os,” Latin for “by mouth,” indicating
oral administration.
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6. A nurse reads “STAT” on a medication order. This means the drug should
be given:
A. Immediately
B. Within an hour
C. After meals
D. During next shift
Rationale:
A. Immediately is correct. "STAT" is derived from Latin “statim” meaning “at
once.”
7. What does "hs" mean when referring to a medication schedule?
A. At bedtime
B. Half strength
C. Every hour
D. Hold stat
Rationale:
A. At bedtime is correct. “hs” is shorthand for “hora somni” in Latin, meaning
"at bedtime."
8. Which abbreviation indicates a medication should be given before meals?
A. pc
B. ac
C. po
D. prn
Rationale:
