What the section tests
School guides such as TSTC's and Western Technical College's describe two groups: basic health-care vocabulary and general knowledge, meaning words common in general English. A typical item puts a word in a short sentence and asks what it means.
The nurse notes bilateral ankle swelling. Bilateral means
The kinds of words to know
- How a patient looks and feels: lethargic, diaphoretic, flushed, pallor, malaise.
- Course and severity of illness: acute, chronic, intermittent, exacerbation, remission.
- Body, position, and direction: bilateral, lateral, distal, supine, prone.
- Treatment and medication: contraindication, adverse, potent, therapeutic.
- Nursing actions and care: assess, monitor, ambulate, aseptic, adhere.
- General academic words: concise, deteriorate, distinguish, reluctant, verify.
These groups follow the HESI A2 Vocabulary topics, where each group has its own cheat sheet.
Word parts that unlock dozens of words
| Word part | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| bi- | two | bilateral |
| hypo- | below, under | hypothermia |
| hyper- | above, excessive | hypertension |
| brady- | slow | bradycardia |
| tachy- | fast | tachycardia |
| -itis | inflammation | dermatitis |
| -ectomy | surgical removal | appendectomy |
| -algia | pain | neuralgia |
Word parts help when you meet a word you have not studied. They do not replace learning the words themselves, because some words do not split cleanly.
Use the sentence, too
The sentence often narrows the choices. In “The patient reports intermittent chest discomfort,” the word describes timing, which rules out answers about severity.
The patient reports intermittent chest discomfort. What is the best meaning of intermittent?
A study routine that sticks
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day, starting in your first study week.
- Recall the meaning before you flip the card; only then check.
- Bring back missed words after a day, then after a few days.
- Once a week, take a timed set of vocabulary questions to check the words hold up in sentences.
NurseSavvy's 505-word HESI vocab deck follows this routine: it brings back the words you mark “still learning” first and saves the ones you know for review rounds. It is free to start: 100 words, then 10 new words a day. Then take a timed Vocabulary practice test to see where you stand.
HESI and HESI A2 are registered trademarks of Elsevier. NurseSavvy is not affiliated with or endorsed by Elsevier.
Common questions
What vocabulary is on the HESI A2?
Health-care words (how a patient looks and feels, the course of an illness, body position, treatments, nursing actions) plus general English vocabulary. Questions usually ask for the best meaning of a word in a sentence.
How many vocabulary questions are on the HESI A2?
Usually 55 (50 scored) in about 50 minutes.
Is there an official HESI A2 vocabulary list?
Elsevier does not publish a free official word list (its paid review book has a vocabulary chapter). Prep lists, including ours, are built from the kinds of words school guides and review materials describe. Learn word parts too, so you can work out words you have not seen.
How do I study HESI A2 vocabulary fast?
Learn high-yield word parts (bi-, hypo-, hyper-, -itis), then a short daily set of words with flashcard-style recall, spaced over days. Ten to fifteen minutes a day for several weeks beats one long session.