100+ Free HESI A2 Vocab Practice Questions

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Question 1

Score: 0/0

When a medication is contraindicated, it means:

It should not be given because it may cause harm

It is the most effective choice

It should be given immediately

It requires a higher dose

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: HESI A2 Vocab Exam

Questions on Vocab subsection

Elsevier handbook

50 min

Section time limit

Elsevier handbook

100

Free practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

Elsevier's HESI A2 Vocabulary section delivers about 50 items in 50 minutes, weighted toward medical-clinical terms, word roots and affixes, vocabulary in context, and academic vocabulary for nursing-school applicants in 2026.

Sample HESI A2 Vocab Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your HESI A2 Vocab exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A patient with hypertension would most likely have which finding?

A.Low blood sugar

B.Elevated blood pressure

C.Slow heart rate

D.Rapid breathing

Explanation: Hypertension literally means 'high tension/pressure' (hyper- = excessive, -tension = pressure). Clinically it refers to chronically elevated arterial blood pressure, typically 130/80 mmHg or higher per current guidelines.

2The nurse documented that the wound required a suture. A suture is a:

A.Sterile dressing

B.Stitch used to close a wound

C.Type of antibiotic ointment

D.Drainage tube

Explanation: A suture is a stitch (or the surgical thread used to make it) that holds the edges of a wound or surgical incision together while it heals. Sutures may be absorbable or non-absorbable.

3A patient described as lethargic is exhibiting which behavior?

A.Restless and agitated

B.Drowsy and sluggish

C.Alert and oriented

D.Anxious and fearful

Explanation: Lethargic means abnormally drowsy, sluggish, or lacking energy. A lethargic patient is difficult to arouse and responds slowly to stimuli — an important neurological assessment finding.

4When the nurse palpates the abdomen, the nurse is:

A.Listening with a stethoscope

B.Examining by touch

C.Tapping to produce sound

D.Visually inspecting it

Explanation: To palpate means to examine by touch, using the hands or fingers to feel for size, firmness, tenderness, or masses. It is one of the four classic physical-exam techniques along with inspection, percussion, and auscultation.

5The physician's prognosis for the patient was guarded. Prognosis refers to:

A.The cause of the disease

B.Identification of the disease

C.The predicted outcome of an illness

D.The treatment plan

Explanation: Prognosis is the predicted or likely outcome of a disease, including chance of recovery, recurrence, and survival. A 'guarded' prognosis means the outcome is uncertain and there is concern about recovery.

6A patient is described as febrile. This means the patient has:

A.Difficulty breathing

B.A fever

C.Pain on movement

D.Bleeding

Explanation: Febrile means having or showing the symptoms of a fever — an elevated body temperature, typically above 38 degrees C (100.4 F). 'Afebrile' is the opposite and means without fever.

7The patient's symptoms were described as transient. Transient means:

A.Severe and lasting

B.Short-lived or temporary

C.Gradually worsening

D.Returning repeatedly

Explanation: Transient means lasting only a short time; temporary. A transient ischemic attack (TIA), for example, produces stroke-like symptoms that resolve within minutes to hours.

8When a wound is described as purulent, it is:

A.Clear and watery

B.Producing or containing pus

C.Healing well

D.Covered with a scab

Explanation: Purulent describes drainage or material that contains pus — a thick, often yellow, green, or white fluid produced during infection. Purulent drainage is a key sign that a wound is infected and requires intervention.

9A patient is described as having an exacerbation of asthma. Exacerbation means:

A.A worsening or flare-up

B.A gradual improvement

C.Complete recovery

D.An initial diagnosis

Explanation: An exacerbation is an increase in the severity of a disease or its signs and symptoms — a flare-up. In asthma, an exacerbation involves worsening wheezing, dyspnea, and decreased peak flow.

10The physician ordered the medication to be given PRN. PRN means the medication is given:

A.Three times a day

B.As needed

C.Before meals

D.By mouth

Explanation: PRN is from the Latin 'pro re nata,' meaning 'as the situation requires' — i.e., as needed. PRN medications are given when the patient requires them, not on a fixed schedule, within ordered limits.

About the HESI A2 Vocab Exam

The HESI A2 Vocabulary & General Knowledge section emphasizes medical-context vocabulary, common Greek/Latin roots, and academic-level word meanings. It is heavily weighted toward clinical terms a nurse will encounter on the job.

Questions

50 scored questions

Time Limit

50 minutes

Passing Score

School set (75-80%+)

Exam Fee

Bundled in HESI A2 registration (Elsevier / nursing school testing centers)

HESI A2 Vocab Exam Content Outline

High

Medical Vocabulary

Clinical terms used in nursing practice

High

Word Roots & Affixes

Greek/Latin medical roots, prefixes, suffixes

High

Vocabulary in Context

Determine meaning from surrounding sentence

Medium

Synonyms & Antonyms

Closest or opposite meaning

Medium

Academic Vocabulary

General college-level vocabulary

How to Pass the HESI A2 Vocab Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: School set (75-80%+)
Exam length: 50 questions
Time limit: 50 minutes
Exam fee: Bundled in HESI A2 registration

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

HESI A2 Vocab Study Tips from Top Performers

1Build a medical-roots flashcard deck (cardi-, neur-, hepato-, etc.)

2Use context-clue strategies: definition, contrast, example

3Learn the most-tested clinical terms: palpate, lethargic, prognosis, supine, prone

4Drill prefixes hyper-/hypo-, ante-/post-, dys-/eu-

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to memorize medical terminology before HESI A2?

Yes — clinical vocabulary makes up the largest share of this section. Focus on common roots like cardi-, neuro-, gastro-, and suffixes like -itis, -ectomy, -ology.

Is this section required?

Yes — vocabulary is one of the universally required HESI subsections.