Hesi A2 Vocabulary
HESI A2 Vocabulary – Practice Questions With Answers
Build your confidence with ULOSCA’s comprehensive HESI A2 Vocabulary prep, a guide customized for nursing students aiming to master healthcare-specific terminology and context-based word use.
All the EXACT questions you need:
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Covers medical vocabulary, synonyms, antonyms, and context clues in nursing communication
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Practice with NCLEX-style questions focused on reading comprehension and word meaning in clinical settings
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Learn how to interpret terms like feasible, labile, ambivalent, and flexion with confidence
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Free Hesi A2 Vocabulary Questions
Select the correct spelling for the word that fits in the sentence:
The nurse told the patient to take the ______ on an empty stomach.
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Medicatian
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Medication
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Madicacion
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Medicashion
Explanation
Correct Answer: B. Medication
Explanation:
Medication is the correct and properly spelled word. It refers to a substance used for medical treatment, especially a drug taken by mouth. The nurse's instruction to take the medication on an empty stomach indicates specific timing for proper absorption and effectiveness.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:
A. Medicatian
This is a misspelling and not a real English word. It does not match standard medical terminology.
C. Madicacion
This spelling is incorrect and resembles a non-English or phonetically mistaken version of the word.
D. Medicashion
Also a misspelling and not an accepted form of the word “medication.”
Which word means a statement of strong praise?
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Plaudit
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Reprieve
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Elegy
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Abasement
Explanation
Correct Answer: A. Plaudit
Explanation:
Plaudit refers to enthusiastic approval or strong praise, often expressed publicly. It can be used in contexts such as audiences giving applause or critics offering high commendation. It’s a direct expression of admiration or recognition.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:
B. Reprieve
A reprieve is a temporary delay or cancellation of punishment, especially in legal or prison contexts. It has nothing to do with praise.
C. Elegy
An elegy is a mournful poem or song, typically written to honor someone who has died. While respectful, it is not focused on praise in the same way a plaudit is.
D. Abasement
Abasement means humiliation or degradation. It is the opposite of praise and implies putting someone down rather than lifting them up with approval.
Choose the correct word to use in the blank:
______ of thinking does not allow a professor to consider another point of view.
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Flexibility
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Flexible
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Rigidity
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Rigid
Explanation
Correct Answer: C. Rigidity
Explanation:
Rigidity is the correct noun to describe the quality of being inflexible or unwilling to change. In the context of thinking, it means being closed-minded or resistant to considering different perspectives.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:
A. Flexibility
This means the ability to adapt or change—opposite of what the sentence is describing.
B. Flexible
This is an adjective, not a noun, and doesn't fit grammatically in the blank.
D. Rigid
Also an adjective, rigid would describe the type of thinking, but the sentence structure requires a noun like rigidity.
Select the meaning of the underlined word in this sentence.
The instructions were concise.
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To the point.
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Hard to understand.
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Incomplete.
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Easy to understand.
Explanation
Correct Answer: A. To the point
Explanation:
The word concise means expressing something clearly and in as few words as necessary—without unnecessary details. When instructions are described as concise, they are direct, efficient, and to the point. This is often appreciated in clinical or procedural settings where clarity and brevity are essential.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:
B. Hard to understand.
Concise communication is typically clear, not difficult to understand. Confusion usually results from vague or complex language, not from being brief and direct.
C. Incomplete.
Concise does not mean missing information. It means all important points are included but delivered in a streamlined way—complete, but without extra wording.
D. Easy to understand.
While concise instructions are often easy to understand, concise specifically refers to brevity, not necessarily clarity. Something can be concise yet confusing if not written well.
What meaning does the underlined word have in the sentence?
The nurse assisted the physician in removing the cast from the patient's arm.
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Bandage
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Medicated salve
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Sling
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Protective device
Explanation
Correct Answer: D. Protective device
Explanation:
In this sentence, cast refers to a hard, protective device applied to immobilize a broken or injured bone while it heals. It's typically made of plaster or fiberglass and is used to keep the affected area stable.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:
A. Bandage
A bandage is usually soft, flexible, and used to cover wounds or secure dressings—not to immobilize bones.
B. Medicated salve
A salve is an ointment used for healing or soothing skin, which is unrelated to the concept of a hard, supportive cast.
C. Sling
A sling is a cloth device used to support an injured arm, but it does not provide the rigid immobilization that a cast does.
Select the meaning of the underlined word in this sentence:
My grandmother used to tell me, "Anything in excess can be a sin."
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More than is needed
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Desirable
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Creating a nuisance
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Not allowed
Explanation
Correct Answer: A. More than is needed
Explanation:
Excess means going beyond what is normal, necessary, or healthy. In this sentence, it implies that having too much of something—even something good—can lead to negative consequences, or be considered wrong.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:
B. Desirable
Something desirable is wanted or preferred, which is not the meaning of excess. Excess implies too much, not simply something wanted.
C. Creating a nuisance
While something done in excess can become a nuisance, the word excess itself specifically means more than is needed, not causing annoyance.
D. Not allowed
Not allowed refers to prohibition or restriction. Excess means overabundance, which may or may not be forbidden.
What word describes a child who placed a frog in a sibling's bed without their knowledge?
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Compliant
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Perceptive
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Ambiguous
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Devious
Explanation
Correct Answer: D. Devious
Explanation:
Devious describes behavior that is sneaky, dishonest, or intended to trick or mislead someone. A child who secretly puts a frog in a sibling’s bed is being mischievous and deceptive—hallmarks of devious behavior.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:
A. Compliant
Compliant means obedient or willing to follow rules—not sneaky or mischievous.
B. Perceptive
Perceptive refers to someone who is insightful or quick to notice things. It doesn’t describe someone engaging in a prank.
C. Ambiguous
Ambiguous means unclear or open to interpretation. It describes communication or meaning, not a person’s behavior in this context.
Vertigo is best defined as
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Swollen and distended veins.
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A wormlike structure.
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Resembling a blood vessel.
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A sensation of movement.
Explanation
Correct Answer: D. A sensation of movement
Explanation:
Vertigo is the false sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving when there is no actual movement. It is often associated with inner ear disorders or neurological issues and can cause dizziness, imbalance, and nausea.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:
A. Swollen and distended veins
This describes varicose veins, not vertigo. Vertigo has nothing to do with the circulatory system or veins.
B. A wormlike structure
This might describe an appendix or vermiform structure but is unrelated to vertigo.
C. Resembling a blood vessel
This refers to vascular or vasiform structures and does not relate to the spinning or dizzy sensation that defines vertigo.
The nurse caring for a client hospitalized for an anxiety disorder writes in the medical record, "Emotionally labile today at lunch time; behavior plan implemented." What does the word "labile" mean in this nurse's note?
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Fearful.
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Unstable.
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Hostile.
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Depressed.
Explanation
Correct Answer: B. Unstable
Explanation:
The term labile refers to something that is changeable or unstable. In the context of emotions, emotionally labile describes rapidly shifting emotional states—such as going from laughing to crying in a short time. It indicates mood instability, which is often seen in anxiety and mood disorders, prompting the use of a behavior plan.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:
A. Fearful.
Although fear can be part of anxiety, labile does not mean fearful. Fear is a specific emotion, whereas labile refers to rapid and unpredictable emotional changes, not a fixed feeling like fear.
C. Hostile.
Hostility involves aggression or anger, but labile doesn't indicate anger specifically. It suggests quick shifts between different emotional states, which may or may not include hostility.
D. Depressed.
Depression refers to a persistently low mood. Labile suggests variability—often including highs and lows—rather than a single mood like depression. Emotional lability may include moments of sadness, but it is not synonymous with depression.
Choose the correct word to use in the blank.
The students thought the ______ was very difficult.
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Exams
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Examination
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Examined
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Examining
Explanation
Correct Answer: B. Examination
Explanation:
Examination is the correct singular noun that fits the sentence structure. It refers to a formal test and aligns with the singular verb was. The sentence refers to one specific test being difficult.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:
A. Exams
"Exams" is plural, but the verb was is singular. For subject-verb agreement, a plural subject would require were instead of was.
C. Examined
"Examined" is a past-tense verb, not a noun. It does not function correctly in this sentence as the subject of the verb was.
D. Examining
"Examining" is a present participle or gerund and does not fit the sentence as clearly or correctly as examination does in conveying the idea of a formal test.
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1. Introduction
The HESI A2 Vocabulary Online Study Guide equips nursing students with the language skills required for success in both academic and clinical settings. This resource focuses on healthcare-specific terminology, reading comprehension, and vocabulary-in-context—all foundational for safe and effective nursing communication. Aligned with HESI A2 testing standards, this guide helps students interpret word meanings, medical instructions, and patient interactions with precision and confidence.
2. Medical Vocabulary in Clinical Context
Understanding vocabulary in context is vital for accurate communication in patient care. This section emphasizes how common terms are used in healthcare documentation and verbal exchanges.
Key concepts include:
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Definitions and synonyms of common medical terms
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Contextual usage in nurse-patient interactions
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Identification of antonyms, homophones, and homonyms
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Applying vocabulary knowledge to real-world nursing scenarios
Students will learn to decode unfamiliar words using prefixes, suffixes, and root words—an essential skill for interpreting charts, orders, and instructions.
3. Word Recognition and Usage
This section builds fundamental comprehension skills through targeted practice in identifying and interpreting vocabulary across various sentence structures.
Topics include:
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Vocabulary embedded in HESI-style clinical passages
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Selecting the most accurate word for fill-in-the-blank questions
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Understanding subtle differences between similar terms (e.g., imply vs. infer)
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Recognizing correct spelling in commonly confused medical terms
Mastery of this content ensures students can accurately interpret test questions and respond with clarity in a healthcare setting.
4. Healthcare Language and Patient Safety
Clear language supports safe care. Misinterpretation of terms like residual, patency, or overt can impact patient outcomes. This section addresses vocabulary as it relates to:
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Safety protocols
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Medication instructions and prescriptions
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Chart documentation and communication with interdisciplinary teams
Practice questions simulate real clinical decision-making situations that rely on accurate word understanding.
5. Exam Strategy and Practice Application
To help students succeed on the HESI A2 Vocabulary exam, this section provides:
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Timed quizzes that mirror the format and difficulty of the actual test
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Rationales that explain why each answer is correct or incorrect
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Mnemonic devices and flashcards to support vocabulary retention
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Commonly tested word lists updated for 2025 exam expectations
Frequently Asked Question
This prep includes over 300 exam-style questions designed to help nursing students master healthcare-specific vocabulary and context-based word use. The questions cover medical terminology, synonyms, antonyms, and context clues often found in nursing communication. Each question comes with expert explanations to ensure clear understanding.
Yes. The questions are either identical or closely modeled on the actual HESI A2 Vocabulary exam, giving you realistic practice and confidence for the test day.
Access costs $30 for a 30-day unlimited access subscription.
The prep covers essential nursing vocabulary including medical terms, reading comprehension in clinical contexts, synonyms and antonyms, understanding prefixes and suffixes, and interpreting patient communication and instructions. Key terms like feasible, labile, ambivalent, and flexion are explained in detail.
Clear vocabulary understanding is critical for safe patient care. This prep focuses on interpreting safety protocols, medication instructions, and interdisciplinary communication to prevent misunderstandings that could impact outcomes.
Absolutely. Each question includes thorough rationales explaining why answers are correct or incorrect, helping reinforce learning.
Yes. The prep offers timed quizzes, mnemonic devices, flashcards, and updated word lists aligned with 2025 exam expectations to boost retention and exam readiness.