Vocabulary Study Guide for the HESI Exam

Medical Terminology

Unlike many other jobs, a medical position requires a working knowledge of a litany of concepts and terms that are largely foreign to the populace at large. To brush up on this aspect of the medical field, read as much and as frequently as possible. Read textbooks, medical journals, reports, and articles related to the medical field. This will allow you to catch a glimpse not only of terminology but of usage as well.

Study terms and their usage. While vocabulary is essential to communicating and understanding others in the medical field, you must not only be able to identify the meanings of words but also be able to put those words into action and place them properly in sentences. Be sure to also study context and placement.

Be aware that some of the following terms may have other usage in everyday language, but also may have a different or slightly altered meaning in the medical field.

Nursing Actions

While performing your duties as a nurse, it will be important that you understand and use the appropriate terms for nursing actions. Here are some of the most important ones:

apply—to put on or put into practice; for example, you might “apply knowledge of procedure,” “apply pressure to the wound,” or “apply a clean dressing”

cursory—a superficial or hasty action taken without thoroughness or by ignoring details

depress—to push down

diagnosis—the detection or identification of an illness or injury based on the symptoms presented

dilute—to thin out or make a liquid weaker in intensity, usually by adding water or another solvent

empathy—the ability to understand and sympathize with a patient’s feelings and perspective and to use that understanding to guide or inform their care

exacerbate—to make worse, intensify, or aggravate

imply—to suggest or hint at something without directly stating it outright

infer—to draw a reasoned conclusion based on available information, evidence, or experience

initiate—to begin or start

intubate—the process or procedure of inserting a tube into the trachea via the nose or mouth to secure an airway to facilitate breathing

triage—to measure, assess, or evaluate the severity of illness or injury to prioritize care based on condition

Descriptive Words in Nursing

Especially when assessing patients, it will be important to use the appropriate words to describe their symptoms and condition. These are some terms you should be familiar with:

ambivalent—having simultaneous contradictory or conflicting feelings or attitudes; these feelings may make it difficult to express a clear decision or make a specific determination

audible—loud enough to be clearly heard

concave—having an inward curvature; a hollow or indented surface

consistency—the uniformity, reliability, or predictability of patient care regardless of shift, staff, or day

depth—the amount, volume, or extent to which a patient is able to breathe

diffuse—not concentrated; widespread; not localized or confined

impending—likely to occur soon; something about to happen or near

impervious—impenetrable; cannot pass through or penetrate; resistant to

insidious—a disease or condition that starts off slowly, develops gradually, and is subtle, often without obvious symptoms

labile—unstable or prone to rapid, significant fluctuation or change

latent—a condition that is present in a patient but may not be actively causing obvious symptoms; present but dormant

primary—a system of nursing care or healthcare emphasizing continuity of care centered around one focal nurse who coordinates patient care with other healthcare professionals

priority—the most critical, most important, or most in need of immediate attention

toxic—something harmful to the body or that negatively impacts health

ubiquitous—existing or present everywhere at the same time; common or widespread

Body and Directional Terms

Medical personnel have a very specific way to describe the body and body directions. Here are some terms you should know:

bilateral—both sides (of the body)

dilate—to increase in size; to widen or enlarge an opening

discrete—distinct, separate, or unconnected; often refers to detailed, measurable data allowing for precise measurement or analysis

distal—locations or parts of the body that are the furthest away from the center or point of attachment

distended—enlarged, stretched out, or swollen

extension—the straightening movement of a joint, increasing the angle between the body parts involved; the opposite of flexion

flexion—the bending movement of a joint, decreasing the angle between the body parts involved and bringing them closer together; the opposite of extension

kinetic—related to movement or motion

lateral—the side of the body; away from the midline or center of the body; may also describe a side-lying position

oral—of or relating to the mouth

otic—of or relating to the ear, especially the inner or middle ear

posterior—the back side of the body; it is the opposite of anterior, which is the front of the body

subcutaneous—under all layers of skin; the area between the skin and underlying muscle

sublingual—under the tongue

symmetric (symmetrical)—both sides of the body having the same general shape, size, and appearance; matching evenness

transdermal—through the skin; usually used to denote one option for delivering medicine to a patient via absorption through the skin

Illness and Condition Terms

When attempting to describe a patient’s condition or the state of their illness, it will be vital to use the proper term. This will foster complete understanding between you and other medical personnel. These are some of the terms you’ll be expected to know and use:

acute—rapid, severe, or sudden change in condition requiring immediate care; the opposite of chronic

bacteria—microscopic, living, single-celled organisms

chronic—a persistent, ongoing condition that impacts daily life, may require medical attention, and lasts longer than three months; the opposite of acute

compensatory—the body’s attempt to counteract and maintain normal functionality despite disruptive problems or disturbances

congenital—a condition or trait present at or before birth

convulsive—rapid, abnormal, involuntary muscle contractions that result in uncontrollable, jerking limb movement and/or shaking

deteriorating—becoming worse; increasing impairment

dysfunction—impaired, abnormal, or inadequate action of a part of the body, especially an organ

equilibrium—a state of balance; the maintenance of balance, stability, or position orientation

etiology—the study of the causes or factors of a disease

exposure—contact with or lack of protection from a potential health risk, such as disease or injury hazard

fatal—capable of causing or resulting in death

fatigue—feelings of persistent tiredness or exhaustion affecting both physical and cognitive abilities

febrile—feverish; marked, caused, or related to a fever

flushed—the physiological response of the nervous system resulting in sudden, increased reddening of the face, neck, or chest due to the widening of the capillaries of the skin

impaired—unable to provide safe or competent patient care

incidence—the rate of newly diagnosed cases of a disease or condition reported over a specified period for a given population

infection—the invasion and growth of pathogens or microorganisms in the body that can lead to disease or other health issues

inflamed—localized response by the body to illness or injury, characterized by swelling, pain, heat, and/or redness

laceration—an often irregularly shaped skin wound produced by a cut or tear in the skin and underlying soft tissue

lethargic—lacking in energy; extreme sluggishness, tiredness, or drowsiness resulting in slowed physical movement and decreased mental alertness

manifestation—the signs and symptoms of a disease or condition that can be observed in a patient

occluded—closing, blocking, obstructing, or preventing the easy flow through a body passage such as a blood vessel

pathogenic—causing or capable of causing disease, harm, or illness

pathology—the study of disease to determine its nature, cause, and development

precipitous—a rapid or steep progression of the labor and delivery process

predispose—to make more likely or susceptible, often to the development of a particular disease or condition

preexisting—a medical condition, illness, or injury one has before starting a new health plan or treatment

retain—to hold on to long-term, as in an employee

status—the measure of a patient’s current clinical condition; the condition or state, both physical and mental, of a patient

symptom—an indication of potential disease or illness; something a patient feels or experiences that may indicate disease or a medical condition

syndrome—a group of signs or symptoms occurring concurrently in a patient that may indicate a particular condition or disease or the increased risk of developing a specific condition or disease

transmission—how a disease or infection transfers or passes from one being to another; the process or route by which infection or disease is spread

trauma—a serious physical injury or illness requiring immediate, often specialized, care

virulent—the speed, ability, and severity with which a microorganism can cause damage such as illness or harm to its host

virus—a microorganism that infects cells, reproduces, and may cause disease after infecting a host cell

volume—the space occupied by something, usually a fluid, within specific compartments of a patient’s body

Terms about Body Systems

To be able to understand a patient’s condition or illness, it will be necessary to know certain basic terms concerning the body’s various systems. Here are some words you’ll need:

cardiac—of or relating to the heart

cavity—a hollow space

defecate—the expulsion of feces from the digestive tract through the anus

gastrointestinal—of or relating to any part of the digestive system

hematologic—of or relating to blood or blood-forming organs

ingest—to take into the body through the mouth

musculoskeletal—of or relating to the body’s system bones, cartilage, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints that support the body’s structure and allow for movement

neurologic—of or related to the body’s nerves or nervous system, including the nerves, spinal cord, and brain

neurovascular—of, relating to, or involving both nerves or nervous system and blood vessels

renal—of, relating to, or involving the kidneys

respiration—breathing; how air moves into and out of the lungs in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide

urinate—the discharge or expulsion of urine (liquid waste material created by the kidneys) from the body through the urinary tract

vascular—of or relating to the body’s system of blood vessels (the vascular system)

Terms Used During Treatment

When you are assisting with patient treatment, it is imperative that you use the correct terminology, both for the patient’s sake and for achieving continuity of care among all health professionals involved. Here are some of the most important ones:

abstain—to refrain from or forgo a substance or behavior; to choose not to engage with

adhere—to stick or hold fast to; the extent to which a patient follows guidance regarding diet, lifestyle, and/or medication

adverse—an undesired effect, outcome, or result

ambulate—to walk or move on one’s own or with assistance from medical devices

assent—legal permission given on behalf of someone unable to give consent (e.g., in the case of a minor or as a result of cognitive impairment) in agreement for willing participation in an activity or procedure

cease—to stop, discontinue, or come to an end

constrict—to tighten or narrow

contingent—hired on a per diem, consulting, or short-term basis for a particular project or task or for a specific, temporary period of time

contraindication—anything (a condition, factor, symptom) that might be a reason for a patient not to be given a specific medicine or undergo a particular procedure if doing so could lead to a harmful or negative outcome for the patient

deficit—an insufficiency of something essential for general health; lacking an essential ability for well-being

hydration—combining with water; adding fluids to the body to replace water lost through metabolic function

hygiene—practices of cleanliness that minimize the spread of germs or infection and promote health

intact—unbroken, unaltered, undamaged, uninjured, or whole

invasive—medical procedures or treatments that require entering the body, usually by cutting the skin or by inserting instruments

nutrient—substances (e.g., vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, proteins) used by the body for energy, growth, and bodily processes and functionality

ongoing—continuing; continuously in progress; happening at the present moment and over a sustained period of time

parameter—a specific measurement or factor identified as crucial to supporting life and used to assess and monitor a patient

patent—referring to something open or unobstructed, allowing free passage and proper function

potent— refers to the strength, power, or efficacy, especially of a medication, to produce a desired effect

potential—something that exists in possibility but hasn’t actually happened yet

precaution— a preventative step or measure taken to minimize or prevent the risk of injury or infection

prognosis—the likely outcome or result of a disease, illness, or injury; the chance of recovery from or recurrence of an illness or injury

recur—to reappear, return, or come back; to happen again, usually after a period of time

residual—something left over or remaining after an event or action; something left behind or persisting after a treatment or procedure has been completed

supplement—an addition made to improve, enhance, or complete, as in a dietary supplement; something extra added for maintenance or improvement of the body

suppress—to stop, reduce, control, inhibit, or restrain; to stop a bodily function from occurring or developing

therapeutic—of or relating to the treatment of disease and the promotion of health and well-being

vital(s)—the measurements of a body’s most basic functions, including heart rate, respiration rate, temperature, and blood pressure

Other Professional Terms

In addition to the previously discussed nursing words, here are a few more that will probably come in handy:

accountable—to be held responsible, liable, or obligated for someone or something

chronology—arrangement or organization by date or time

concise—brief or succinct; explanatory without excessive elaboration or detail

rationale—the underlying reason or basis for an action or belief