what does it mean if a patient is lethargic

HESI A2

Vocabulary for HESI A2

1. What does it mean if a patient is lethargic?

A. Active
B. Exhausted
C. Confused
D. Restless

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Lethargic means feeling exhausted or sluggish. Being lethargic is the opposite of being active (choice A), confused (choice C), or restless (choice D). When a patient is lethargic, they lack energy and may appear tired or sluggish.

2. What does the term 'bilingual' mean in the sentence: 'Being bilingual is an advantage for a nurse'?

A. Able to speak more than one language
B. Able to use either hand
C. Not squeamish about blood
D. Can remember everything

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'Able to speak more than one language.' In the context provided, 'bilingual' refers to the ability to speak two languages. This is advantageous for a nurse who may need to communicate with patients from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not align with the meaning of 'bilingual' as the ability to speak multiple languages.

3. What does Incidence mean?

A. Occurrence
B. Disappearance
C. Growth
D. Repetition

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'Occurrence.' Incidence refers to the frequency or occurrence of something happening. Choice B, 'Disappearance,' is incorrect as it means vanishing or ceasing to exist. Choice C, 'Growth,' is incorrect as it refers to an increase in size, number, or development. Choice D, 'Repetition,' is incorrect as it means the action of repeating something that has already been said or written.

4. Choose the meaning of the word 'inquest' in the following sentence: 'Many interesting discoveries were made at the inquest.'

A. Tryout
B. Intake
C. Autopsy
D. Checkup

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The word 'inquest' typically refers to a legal investigation or inquiry, especially into the cause of someone's death. In this context, an 'inquest' is associated with conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. A 'tryout' refers to a test or trial, 'intake' relates to the process of taking something in, such as food or air, and a 'checkup' is a general medical examination.

5. What is the meaning of the word 'placebo' in the following sentence: 'Ten patients will receive the experimental drug while 10 take a placebo'?

A. Fallback
B. Substitute
C. Control
D. Curative

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In the context of the sentence, the word 'placebo' refers to a substance or treatment that resembles a real medical treatment but has no therapeutic effect. It is used as a standard against which the effects of the experimental drug are compared. A placebo is typically included in a control group in medical research to evaluate the actual effects of the experimental drug. Therefore, in this scenario, the placebo serves as a control to gauge the effectiveness of the experimental drug, making choice C the correct answer. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because a placebo is not a fallback, substitute, or curative treatment in this context.