1173 questions · 41 topics
Practice
One topic per heading of the RCSI reading list. Questions you got wrong come back first; ones you have nailed twice in a row are marked mastered.
Clinical systems
Body systems and the conditions RCSI names on its reading list.
CardiovascularCardiac output, blood pressure, heart failure, DVT, anticoagulation and the observations that go with them.27 q · 0 masteredRespiratoryAsthma, COPD, oxygen therapy and target saturations, inhalers, nebulisers, spirometry and the MRC dyspnoea scale.20 q · 0 masteredGastrointestinalBristol Stool Chart, constipation, H. pylori and peptic ulcer, gastroscopy and colonoscopy, coffee-ground vomit.20 q · 0 masteredRenal and urinaryUrinalysis and dipstick, UTI, catheter care and CAUTI prevention, specimen collection, urine output.20 q · 0 masteredNeurologicalGlasgow Coma Scale, pupil checks, neurovascular assessment, head injury and neurological observations.20 q · 0 masteredDiabetesOSCE stationType 1 and type 2, hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia, insulin, blood glucose monitoring, DKA warning signs.37 q · 0 masteredSepsisHSE National Clinical Guideline No. 26 (v2, 2025): recognition, the adult screening tool, Sepsis 6, ISBAR escalation.38 q · 0 masteredSkin and pressure injuryOSCE stationSSKIN bundle, Waterlow score, pressure injury stages, blanching and non-blanching erythema, wound healing.32 q · 0 masteredStoma careOSCE stationColostomy and ileostomy, stoma appearance, output, skin care, diet and living with a stoma.20 q · 0 masteredOsteoporosisBone density, DEXA scans, osteopenia, risk factors, calcium and vitamin D, fracture prevention.25 q · 0 masteredNutrition, malnutrition and obesityOSCE stationMUST screening, BMI, the Healthy Ireland food pyramid, intake charts, obesity as a health risk.20 q · 0 masteredPainOPQRST assessment, pain scales, acute and chronic pain, analgesia principles and the psychosocial side of pain.20 q · 0 mastered
Older person and acute care
Where most OSCE stations sit: the frail, confused or deteriorating adult.
Older person careOSCE stationNMBI guidance on working with older people, discharge planning, the multidisciplinary team, elder abuse.30 q · 0 masteredDeliriumOSCE stationRecognising acute confusion, causes, hypoactive and hyperactive delirium, 4AT, how delirium differs from dementia.36 q · 0 masteredDementiaOSCE stationTypes of dementia, communication, person-centred care, responsive behaviours, capacity and safety.22 q · 0 masteredFrailty and deconditioningOSCE stationFrailty syndromes, hospital deconditioning, Get Up Get Dressed Get Moving, mobilisation and rehabilitation.20 q · 0 masteredFallsOSCE stationFalls risk assessment, prevention bundles, post-fall care, environment and footwear, medication risks.22 q · 0 masteredDeath and dyingOSCE stationKubler-Ross stages, palliative care principles, comfort care, last offices, supporting families.22 q · 0 masteredChronic disease managementOSCE stationSelf-management support, integrated care programmes, health promotion and psychosocial approaches.20 q · 0 masteredNursing process in the acute situationOSCE stationADPIE, prioritising the deteriorating patient, post-operative bleed, acute UTI, DVT, neurovascular checks.20 q · 0 masteredPre- and post-operative carePre-operative assessment, consent and fasting, WHO Surgical Safety Checklist, TED stockings, surgical site infection.20 q · 0 mastered
Fundamentals and patient safety
Observations, infection control, medicines and lines. Asked in every paper.
Fundamentals of nursing careOSCE stationActivities of daily living, intake and output, personal hygiene, skincare, urinary elimination, ANTT wound dressing.20 q · 0 masteredObservations and INEWSVital signs and normal ranges, the Irish National Early Warning System chart, escalation, ISBAR handover.46 q · 0 masteredInfection prevention and controlHand hygiene and the 5 Moments, standard and transmission-based precautions, PPE order, sharps, waste segregation.42 q · 0 masteredMedication and drug calculationsNMBI medication guidance, rights of administration, dose and volume calculations, time-critical medicines, antimicrobial stewardship.44 q · 0 masteredPeripheral venous catheter and IV therapyPVC care bundle, VIP score, priming lines, fluid balance, phlebitis and line infection.24 q · 0 masteredRCSI sample medical preparationsOSCE stationThe 33 preparations on the RCSI list from 6 September 2025: aspirin to Symbicort under the seven RCSI headings, how the five antihypertensives work, syringe driver drugs, falls high-risk medicines.81 q · 0 mastered
Professional, legal and policy
The NMBI Code, consent, safeguarding and Irish health policy.
Safeguarding, consent and open disclosureOSCE stationHSE National Consent Policy, Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act, adult safeguarding, complaints, open disclosure.36 q · 0 masteredNMBI Code and professional mattersCode of Professional Conduct and Ethics (2025), scope of practice, accountability, HIQA standards, Healthy Ireland.40 q · 0 masteredSocial prescribing and community careSocial prescribing, community care services, the public health nurse, supports for living at home.20 q · 0 masteredIrish health system and lawHSE and its health regions, Sláintecare, HIQA and the Chief Inspector, Children First, the 2005 safety Act and manual handling, the Mental Health Act 2001, complaints, Fair Deal, medical cards.20 q · 0 masteredTeaching the junior student nurseOSCE stationExplaining a condition and its investigation to a student: H. pylori and gastroscopy, DEXA, colonoscopy, bronchoscopy, ambulatory BP.30 q · 0 mastered
Medical-surgical foundations
Textbook ground the theory paper draws on beyond the reading list: blood, fluids, wounds, emergencies, drugs, evidence.
Anatomy and physiology essentialsHomeostasis and feedback, heart chambers and circuits, conduction and the ECG, airway and breathing mechanics, blood and plasma, kidneys and urine, pancreas, liver and gallbladder.28 q · 0 masteredBlood transfusion and haematologyBedside checks, observations, 4-hour and 12-hour rules, blood groups, reactions from mild fever to TACO and ABO haemolysis, iron deficiency anaemia.30 q · 0 masteredFluids, electrolytes and fluid balanceThe 5 Rs, signs of hypovolaemia, the 500 ml bolus, 25 to 30 ml/kg maintenance, potassium rules, sodium and chloride limits, reading a fluid balance chart, dehydration.28 q · 0 masteredWound care and healingHealing phases, primary and secondary intention, TIME, wound measurement, infection continuum, swabs, cleansing, dressings, ABPI and compression, the diabetic foot.28 q · 0 masteredShock, anaphylaxis and emergenciesFour types and three stages of shock, lactate and MAP, anaphylaxis and IM adrenaline, adult basic life support, AED, choking, hypoglycaemia, bleeding, stroke, heat stroke.28 q · 0 masteredPharmacology and vaccinesParacetamol limits, NSAIDs, aspirin, warfarin and INR, clopidogrel, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, PPIs, levothyroxine, steroids, lithium, inhalers, and the Irish childhood and school vaccine schedules.28 q · 0 masteredHigh-alert medicinesInsulin (units in full, insulin syringes, second check, single-patient pens, high-strength products), IV potassium (storage, 40 mmol/L, 10 mmol/h), methotrexate once weekly, DOACs, apixaban, morphine, digoxin, metformin.33 q · 0 masteredOncology and cancer care basicsWhat cancer is, benign and malignant, routes of spread, cancer types, how chemotherapy works, side effects and the SOS hotline triggers, infection precautions, BreastCheck, BowelScreen and CervicalCheck.28 q · 0 masteredResearch, evidence and nursing theoryEvidence-based practice, inductive and deductive reasoning, the metaparadigm, Nightingale to Benner, the Roper-Logan-Tierney model, hierarchy of evidence, RCTs and cohorts, GRADE.28 q · 0 mastered