Question 1

Abrupt

Accepted Answer

Sudden
Ex. The nurse noticed an abrupt change in the patient's level of pain.

Question 2

Abstain

Accepted Answer

To voluntarily refrain from something.
Ex. The dental hygienist instructed the patient to abstain from smoking to improve his breath odor.

Question 3

Access

Accepted Answer

A means to obtain entry or a means of approach. 
Ex. To administer medications into the patient's vein, the nurse must access the vein with a special needle.

Question 4

Accountable

Accepted Answer

Responsible 
Ex. Paramedics are accountable for maintaining up-to-date knowledge of resuscitation techniques.

Question 5

Adhere

Accepted Answer

To hold fast or stick together.
Ex. The tape must adhere to the patient's skin to hold the bandage in place.

Question 6

Adverse

Accepted Answer

Undesired, possibly harmful.
Ex. Vomiting is an adverse effect of many medications.

Question 7

Affect

Accepted Answer

Appearance of observable emotions.
Ex. The nurse observed that a depressed patient exhibited no obvious emotion and reported that the patient had a flat affect.

Question 8

Annual

Accepted Answer

Occurring every year.
Ex. The patient told the nurse that she had scheduled her annual mammogram, as she has been instructed.

Question 9

Apply

Accepted Answer

To place, put on, or spread something.
Ex. The physical

Question 10

Abrupt

Accepted Answer

Sudden
Ex. The nurse noticed an abrupt change in the patient's level of pain.

Question 11

Abstain

Accepted Answer

To voluntarily refrain from something.
Ex. The dental hygienist instructed the patient to abstain from smoking to improve his breath odor.

Question 12

Access

Accepted Answer

A means to obtain entry or a means of approach. 
Ex. To administer medications into the patient's vein, the nurse must access the vein with a special needle.

Question 13

Accountable

Accepted Answer

Responsible 
Ex. Paramedics are accountable for maintaining up-to-date knowledge of resuscitation techniques.

Question 14

Adhere

Accepted Answer

To hold fast or stick together.
Ex. The tape must adhere to the patient's skin to hold the bandage in place.

Question 15

Adverse

Accepted Answer

Undesired, possibly harmful.
Ex. Vomiting is an adverse effect of many medications.

Question 16

Affect

Accepted Answer

Appearance of observable emotions.
Ex. The nurse observed that a depressed patient exhibited no obvious emotion and reported that the patient had a flat affect.

Question 17

Annual

Accepted Answer

Occurring every year.
Ex. The patient told the nurse that she had scheduled her annual mammogram, as she has been instructed.

Question 18

Apply

Accepted Answer

To place, put on, or spread something.
Ex. The physical therapist will apply a medication to the wound before covering the wound with a bandage.

Question 19

Audible

Accepted Answer

Able to be heard.
Ex. The respiratory therapist noticed that when the patient was having difficulty breathing, the therapist could hear an audible wheezing sound.

Question 20

Bilateral

Accepted Answer

Present on two sides.
Ex. The unlicensed assistive personnel reported to the nurse that the patient had bilateral weakness in the legs when walking.

Question 21

Cardiac

Accepted Answer

Of or relating to the heart.
Ex. Smoking increases the risk of cardiac disease.

Question 22

Cast

Accepted Answer

Hard protective device applied to protect a broken bone while the bone heals. 
Ex. The nurse instructed the child that he could not go swimming  while the cast was on his broken arm.

Question 23

Cavity

Accepted Answer

An opening or an empty area.
Ex. The nurse inspected the patient's oral cavity for lesions.

Question 24

Cease

Accepted Answer

Come to an end or bring to an end. 
Ex. Because the patient's breathing had ceased, the paramedic began resuscitation measures.

Question 25

Compensatory

Accepted Answer

When the patient's blood pressure decreased, the paramedic noted that the heart rate increased, which the paramedic recognized as a compensatory action.

Question 26

Complication

Accepted Answer

An undesired problem that is the result of some other event.
Ex. The physician told the patient that loss of eyesight is a possible complication of eye surgery.

Question 27

Comply

Accepted Answer

Do as directed.
Ex. The nurse asked the patient to comply with the instructions for taking the medication.

Question 28

Concave

Accepted Answer

Rounded inward.
Ex. The dietitian noticed that the patient was very thin and the patient's abdomen appeared concave.

Question 29

Concise

Accepted Answer

Brief, to the point.
Ex. When teaching a patient, the nurse tried to be concise, so the instructions would be easy to remember.

Question 30

Consistency

Accepted Answer

Degree of viscosity; how thick or thin a fluid is.
Ex. The respiratory therapist noticed that the mucus the patient was coughing was of a thin, watery consistency.

Question 31

Constrict

Accepted Answer

To draw together or become smaller.
Ex. The nurse knows that the small blood vessels of the skin will constrict when ice is applied to the skin.

Question 32

Contingent

Accepted Answer

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

Question 33

Contour

Accepted Answer

Shape or outline of a shape.
Ex.While bathing an overweight patient, the unlicensed assistive personnel noticed that the contour of the patient's abdomen was quite rounded.

Question 34

Contract

Accepted Answer

To draw together, to reduce in size.
Ex. The physical therapist exercises the patient's muscles so they contract and expand.

Question 35

Contradiction

Accepted Answer

A reason why something is not advisable or why it should not be done.
Ex. The patient's excessive bleeding was a contradiction for discharge from the hospital.

Term	Definition
Abrupt	Sudden Ex. The nurse noticed an abrupt change in the patient's level of pain.
Abstain	To voluntarily refrain from something. Ex. The dental hygienist instructed the patient to abstain from smoking to improve his breath odor.
Access	A means to obtain entry or a means of approach. Ex. To administer medications into the patient's vein, the nurse must access the vein with a special needle.
Accountable	Responsible Ex. Paramedics are accountable for maintaining up-to-date knowledge of resuscitation techniques.
Adhere	To hold fast or stick together. Ex. The tape must adhere to the patient's skin to hold the bandage in place.
Adverse	Undesired, possibly harmful. Ex. Vomiting is an adverse effect of many medications.
Affect	Appearance of observable emotions. Ex. The nurse observed that a depressed patient exhibited no obvious emotion and reported that the patient had a flat affect.
Annual	Occurring every year. Ex. The patient told the nurse that she had scheduled her annual mammogram, as she has been instructed.
Apply	To place, put on, or spread something. Ex. The physical
Abrupt	Sudden Ex. The nurse noticed an abrupt change in the patient's level of pain.
Abstain	To voluntarily refrain from something. Ex. The dental hygienist instructed the patient to abstain from smoking to improve his breath odor.
Access	A means to obtain entry or a means of approach. Ex. To administer medications into the patient's vein, the nurse must access the vein with a special needle.
Accountable	Responsible Ex. Paramedics are accountable for maintaining up-to-date knowledge of resuscitation techniques.
Adhere	To hold fast or stick together. Ex. The tape must adhere to the patient's skin to hold the bandage in place.
Adverse	Undesired, possibly harmful. Ex. Vomiting is an adverse effect of many medications.
Affect	Appearance of observable emotions. Ex. The nurse observed that a depressed patient exhibited no obvious emotion and reported that the patient had a flat affect.
Annual	Occurring every year. Ex. The patient told the nurse that she had scheduled her annual mammogram, as she has been instructed.
Apply	To place, put on, or spread something. Ex. The physical therapist will apply a medication to the wound before covering the wound with a bandage.
Audible	Able to be heard. Ex. The respiratory therapist noticed that when the patient was having difficulty breathing, the therapist could hear an audible wheezing sound.
Bilateral	Present on two sides. Ex. The unlicensed assistive personnel reported to the nurse that the patient had bilateral weakness in the legs when walking.
Cardiac	Of or relating to the heart. Ex. Smoking increases the risk of cardiac disease.
Cast	Hard protective device applied to protect a broken bone while the bone heals. Ex. The nurse instructed the child that he could not go swimming while the cast was on his broken arm.
Cavity	An opening or an empty area. Ex. The nurse inspected the patient's oral cavity for lesions.
Cease	Come to an end or bring to an end. Ex. Because the patient's breathing had ceased, the paramedic began resuscitation measures.
Compensatory	When the patient's 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. Ex. The physician told the patient that loss of eyesight is a possible complication of eye surgery.
Comply	Do as directed. Ex. The nurse asked the patient to comply with the instructions for taking the medication.
Concave	Rounded inward. Ex. The dietitian noticed that the patient was very thin and the patient's abdomen appeared concave.
Concise	Brief, to the point. Ex. When teaching a patient, the nurse tried to be concise, so the instructions would be easy to remember.
Consistency	Degree of viscosity; how thick or thin a fluid is. Ex. The respiratory therapist noticed that the mucus the patient was coughing was of a thin, watery consistency.
Constrict	To draw together or become smaller. Ex. The nurse knows that the small blood vessels of the skin will constrict when ice is applied to the skin.
Contingent	Dependent. Ex. The hygienist told the patient that a healthy mouth is contingent on careful daily brushing and flossing.
Contour	Shape or outline of a shape. Ex.While bathing an overweight patient, the unlicensed assistive personnel noticed that the contour of the patient's abdomen was quite rounded.
Contract	To draw together, to reduce in size. Ex. The physical therapist exercises the patient's muscles so they contract and expand.
Contradiction	A reason why something is not advisable or why it should not be done. Ex. The patient's excessive bleeding was a contradiction for discharge from the hospital.
Defecate

"Know" box contains:
Time elapsed:
Retries:

HESI Vocab