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HESI A2 Vocabulary and General Knowledge practice questions

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These are original practice items written to the HESI A2 blueprint (4 options, no penalty for wrong answers), not actual exam questions. Try each one before you open the answer.

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Topics come from the tags on our own items, so this list reflects what the bank actually covers in Vocabulary and General Knowledge rather than a generic syllabus.

Vocabulary and general knowledge 306 in the bank

Vocabulary and General Knowledge sample questions

Question 1

The patient reported a vague sense of malaise for several days before the fever finally appeared. What does 'malaise' most nearly mean?

  1. A Loss of appetite only
  2. B General feeling of discomfort or unease
  3. C Intense localized pain
  4. D Sudden improvement in condition
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B

Malaise means a general feeling of discomfort, illness or unease. "Vague" signals a hard-to-pin-down sense of being unwell that came before the fever.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: Malaise is a general feeling of being unwell, not a single symptom such as loss of appetite.
C: Intense localized pain is specific and sharp, unlike the vague feeling described.
D: Sudden improvement contradicts the course described, since a fever appeared afterward.

Question 2

Given the patient's history of falls, the nurse thought it was prudent to keep the bed rails raised at all times. What does 'prudent' most nearly mean here?

  1. A Optional and easily skipped
  2. B Sensible and showing careful judgment
  3. C Unnecessary and clearly excessive
  4. D Careless and done without thought
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B

Prudent means sensible and showing careful judgment. Given the patient's history of falls, the nurse judged that keeping the rails raised was a sensible precaution.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: Optional and easily skipped contradicts doing something "at all times" out of concern for safety.
C: Unnecessary and excessive is the opposite of how the nurse viewed the precaution.
D: Careless and done without thought is the opposite of prudent; the nurse acted because of the fall history.

Question 3

As the day of her scheduled biopsy approached, the patient grew increasingly apprehensive, unable to sleep the night before. What does 'apprehensive' most nearly mean as used in this sentence?

  1. A confident about the results
  2. B anxious about what may happen
  3. C angry at the delay
  4. D indifferent to the procedure
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B

Apprehensive means anxious about what may happen. As the biopsy approached, the patient grew more worried and could not sleep the night before.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: Confident about the results contradicts her growing unease and sleeplessness.
C: Nothing mentions a delay; her worry centered on the upcoming biopsy.
D: Indifferent means unconcerned, yet her sleeplessness shows strong concern.

Question 4

The patient exhibited a profound lack of energy, which the doctor attributed to anemia. What does 'profound' mean in this sentence?

  1. A Temporary or fleeting
  2. B Very great or intense
  3. C Slight or minimal
  4. D Unusual or rare
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B

'Profound' means extremely deep or intense. Here it describes a severe lack of energy.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: Temporary refers to duration, not intensity.
C: Slight is the opposite of profound.
D: Unusual implies rarity, not depth or severity.

Question 5

The charge nurse recognized that the patient's respiratory failure was imminent and immediately called for assistance. What does 'imminent' most nearly mean in this context?

  1. A Unlikely to occur
  2. B About to happen
  3. C Gradually improving
  4. D Already resolved
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B

Imminent means about to happen. The nurse called for help immediately because respiratory failure was close at hand.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: Something unlikely to occur would not prompt an immediate call for assistance.
C: Gradually improving describes recovery, which conflicts with impending respiratory failure.
D: Already resolved means the problem is over, yet the nurse acted urgently.

Question 6

The patient's rash was determined to be iatrogenic, resulting from an adverse reaction to the prescribed antibiotic. 'Iatrogenic' means:

  1. A caused by the patient's own behavior
  2. B caused by an infection
  3. C caused by medical treatment
  4. D caused by environmental factors
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C

Iatrogenic comes from the Greek "iatros" (physician) and "-genic" (produced by), so it means caused by medical treatment or by a healthcare provider. A rash from a prescribed antibiotic fits exactly.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: Harm caused by the patient's own actions is not iatrogenic; the cause here was a prescribed drug.
B: An infection is caused by a pathogen, but the sentence attributes the rash to a reaction to an antibiotic.
D: Environmental causes, such as allergens or heat, come from the surroundings, not from medical care.

Question 7

The instructor asked students to keep their patient care summaries concise, including only the essential findings needed for the next shift to understand the case quickly. What does 'concise' mean in this context?

  1. A Lengthy and detailed
  2. B Technical and complex
  3. C Brief and clearly stated
  4. D Vague and rambling
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C

Concise means brief and clearly stated. The summaries were to include only essential findings so the next shift could understand the case quickly.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: Lengthy and detailed is the opposite of concise and would slow down the handoff.
B: Technical and complex describes difficulty, not brevity.
D: Vague and rambling writing is neither short nor clear.

Question 8

Despite repeated setbacks, the physical therapist remained tenacious, adjusting the exercise plan until the patient regained mobility. What does 'tenacious' mean in this context?

  1. A easily discouraged
  2. B indifferent to outcomes
  3. C overly cautious
  4. D persistent and determined
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D

Tenacious means persistent and determined. Despite repeated setbacks, the therapist kept adjusting the plan until the patient regained mobility.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: Easily discouraged is the opposite of continuing after repeated setbacks.
B: Indifferent to outcomes does not fit someone who worked until the patient improved.
C: Overly cautious describes hesitancy, while the sentence stresses persistence.

Question 9

Skipping doses of the antibiotic can exacerbate the infection, making it harder to treat. What does 'exacerbate' mean in this context?

  1. A slow down
  2. B make worse
  3. C cure completely
  4. D have no effect on
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B

Exacerbate means to make worse. Skipping antibiotic doses makes the infection "harder to treat," so it becomes more severe.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: Slowing the infection would be an improvement, but the sentence describes a worse outcome.
C: Curing completely is the opposite of making the infection harder to treat.
D: Having no effect contradicts the statement that the infection becomes harder to treat.

Question 10

After three days without adequate sleep, the resident felt lethargic and struggled to concentrate during rounds. What does 'lethargic' mean in this context?

  1. A nauseated and dizzy
  2. B anxious and irritable
  3. C sluggish and lacking energy
  4. D confused and forgetful
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C

Lethargic means sluggish and lacking energy. After three days without enough sleep, the resident was worn out and struggled to concentrate.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: Nausea and dizziness are physical symptoms that the sentence does not describe.
B: Anxious and irritable describes mood and nervousness, not low energy.
D: Confused and forgetful describes problems with thinking and memory, while lethargic means drowsy and slow.

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