HESI A2 Entrance Exam

virulence

the ability to produce disease

efface

to wipe out, to rub out, do away with; (medical) the thinning of the cervix during labor

ubiquitous

omnipresent, existing or being everywhere

osmosis

process of fluid passing through semi-permeable membrane from higher to lower concentration

labile

apt or likely to change, changing quickly

-Because the children fever was very labile the nurse instructed the unlicensed assistive personnel to check the temp frequently.

febrile

having or showing symptoms of a fever

dynamic

energetic, lively

insidious

dangerous, treacherous, so gradual as to not become apparent for a long time

-The doctor explained that the cancer probably started years ago but had not been detected because it spread was so insidious.

empathy

understanding another's pain, suffering alongside someone else

anticipatory

showing anticipation, looking forward to

ominous

threatening, menacing

preferred

to set above or hold above another, to like better than another

acute

sharp, intense, coming about quickly

chronic

(medical) refers to a disease or condition that is long-lasting and reoccurring

exploratory

(medical) refers to a surgery or procedure used to diagnose a disease or condition but not treat it

recessive

(genetics) A trait or a gene that can be dominated by another (dominant) trait or gene

assent

To agree (not the same as ascend, to go up or higher), to give consent

toxic

poisonous

subjective data

(medical) Symptoms. Information that is apparent only to the person affected; that person is the only one who can verify it. Examples are pain, fear, and itching.

objective data

(medical) Signs. Information that can be detected or measured by an observer against a standard. Examples are blood pressure, body temperature, and observing a patient crying.

effect

more often used as a noun, meaning result or outcome

affect

Often seen as a verb, meaning to influence or to change. In medical terminology, it may be used as a noun meaning a person's emotional response or disposition.

overt

in the open, clearly visible, not hidden

anterior

toward the front

contract

pronounced with the accent on the second syllable (and used as a verb), it means to draw up, to draw together

-The physical therapist exercises the patients muscles so they contract and expand.

rigidity

stiffness, the stat of not being flexible

persecute

to harass or annoy constantly

longevity

long life

impervious

cannot be penetrated or affected

distension

swollen and protruding out further than normal

ambivalent

uncertain, having contradictory feelings, unable to make a decision between two conflicting choices

patent

(medical) Pronounced with a long a ̅, refers to something tube-shaped that is open and unblocked (such as an artery)

potent

powerful, producing a strong effect

-the medicine was very potent and it immediately relieved the pateint pain

adhere

to stick to, either literally or figuratively (to adhere to the wall); to adhere to a strict diet

euthanasia

referred to as a "mercy killing," to choose to end the life of someone who is terminally ill

prognosis

predicting the likely outcome of an illness

antigen

a foreign substance that causes the immune system to make antibodies against it

abstain

to voluntarily refrain from

incidence

the rate at which something occurs, such as injuries or illnesses

hydrophilic

attracted to water ("water loving")

hydrophobic

not attracted to water or water-repelling ("fear of water")

occluded

blocked, closed; the opposite of patent

-Because the patient foot was cold and blue the nurse reported that the patient circulation to the foot was occluded.

precipitous

(medical) a sudden and dramatic change for the worse

vital

necessary for the maintenance of life; essential

ingest

to take into the body by the mouth for digestion

proscribe

to forbid

prescribe

recommend or authorize the use of

supplement

something that is added in order to make up for something that is lacking or missing

paroxysm

a violent seizure; or something that begins suddenly and uncontrollably

carniore

meat-eater

belligerent

aggressively hostile, combative, pugnatious

bilateral

present on both sides

-The unlicensed assistive personnel reported o the nurse that the patient had bilateral weakness in the leg when walking.

recur

to occur again

flaccid

limp, lacking tone

- After a stroke , the patient could not feed herself because her arms were flaccid.

androgynous

having both male and female characteristics

untoward

improper or unfortunate, adverse or negative

-The patient became very confused which was an untoward effect of the medication received.

endogenous

occurring or resulting from within the body

-The nurse explained that endogenous insulin produced by the body's pancreas helps regulate the body blood sugar levels.

exogenous

occurring or resulting from outside the body

-The nurse explained that people with diabetes often need to receive exogenous forms of insulin because their bodies are unable to produce enough insulin.

intrusive

invasive

parameter

guideline, a characteristic or constant factor, limit

-The dietician explained that the number of calories needed for energy is one of the important parameters of a healthy diet.

void

(medial) to urinate; excrete or expel urine

-The patient was instructed to void into the container so the nurse could examine the urine.

lethargic

sluggish, difficult to arouse

-The unlicensed assitive personnel observed that the morning after a patient received a sleeping pill, the patient was to lethargic to eat breakfast.

offsetting

counteracting

atrophy

the degeneration or wasting away of a part of the body

discrete

apart or detached, separate, distinct

-The paramedics observed several discrete bruise marks on patients body.

site

location

exposure

to surgically lay open; to be subjected to something (such as sunlight or germs)

exacerbate

to aggravate, to worsen

neuron

a nerve cell

adverse

unfavorable, undesired, possibly harmful

-Vommiting is an adverse effect of many medications.

holistic

(medical) concerned with the whole person or all the body systems instead of just one part

suppress

to stop, or subdue

-When the child's fever went down, the nurse checked to see if any medication given had suppress the fever.

impending

about to happen, likely to occur soon

symmetric

equal on both sides; being equal or the same in size, shape, and relative postition

volume

quantity

repugnant

offensive

intact

unbroken, in place, unharmed

access

the ability to enter, contract, or approach;

-To administer medications into the patient vein,the nurse must access the vein with special needle.

dilate

to become larger in diameter

abrupt

sudden

annual

occurring every year

apply

to place, put on, or spread something

audible

able to be heard

cardiac

of or relating to the heart

cast

hard protective device applied to protect a broken bone while the bones heals

cavity

an opening or an empty space

cease

come to an end or bring to an end

compensatory

offsetting or making up for something

-When the patients blood pressure decreased, the paramedic noted that the heart rate increased ,which the paramedic recognized as a compensatory action.

complication

an undesired problem that is the result of some other event

comply

to do as directed

concave

rounded inward

concise

brief to the point

consistency

degree of viscosity , how thick or thin fluid is

-The respiratory therapist noticed that the mucus the patient was coughing was a thin watery consistency.

constrict

to draw together or become smaller

-The nurse knows that small blood vessel of the skin will constrict when ice is applied to the skin,

contingent

dependent

-The hygienist told the patient that a healthy mouth is contingent on careful daily brushing and flossing.

contour

shape or outline of a shape

-While bathing an overweight patient, the unlicensed assistive personnel noticed that the contour of the patient abdomen was quite rounded.

contraindication

a reason why something is not advisable or why it should not be done

-The patients excessive bleeding was a contraindication for discharge from the hospital.

defecate

expel feces

-The unlicensed assistive personnel helped the patient to the toilet when he needed to defecate.

deficit

a deficiency or lack of something

depress

press downward

-The nurse will depress the patients skin to see if any swelling is present.