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 is the meaning of exacerbate?

A. To lessen in intensity
B. To make worse
C. To neutralize
D. To control

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'To make worse.' Exacerbate means to worsen or make a situation, condition, or problem more severe or intense, not to lessen it. Therefore, if something exacerbates a situation, it means it makes it worse. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because exacerbate does not mean to lessen in intensity, neutralize, or control the situation, but rather to worsen it.

3. Identify the incomplete sentence.

A. While they were sleeping.
B. The dog slept.
C. The sun rises in the east.
D. They went home.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A, 'While they were sleeping.' This is an incomplete sentence as it lacks a main clause. A complete sentence should have both a subject and a predicate to express a complete thought. In this case, the subordinating conjunction 'while' introduces a dependent clause that needs to be connected to an independent clause to form a complete sentence. Choices B, C, and D are complete sentences as they each contain a subject and a predicate, expressing a complete thought.

4. What is the best description of the verb emit?

A. To discharge
B. To exclude
C. To dismiss
D. To moderate

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The best description of the verb emit is 'to discharge.' Emit means to produce and release something such as a sound, odor, or substance. Discharge is synonymous with emit in this context as it conveys the idea of releasing or sending out something, which aligns with the meaning of emit. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. 'To exclude' means to deny access or prevent from entering, which is not the same as emit. 'To dismiss' means to remove from consideration or to let go, which is different from emitting. 'To moderate' means to make or become less extreme, intense, or severe, which is not the same as emitting or releasing something.

5. Select the meaning of the underlined word in the following sentence. The interns observed the contour of the patient’s rash.

A. Shape
B. Answers
C. Amount
D. Extension

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In this context, the word 'contour' refers to the outline or shape of the patient's rash. It indicates the specific form or structure of the rash as observed by the interns. 'Answers,' 'Amount,' and 'Extension' are incorrect choices because they do not accurately reflect the meaning of 'contour' in this sentence.