Fundamentals of nursing care: RCSI aptitude test practice questions

Sample questions from this topic

1. Question 1

   How does a nursing diagnosis differ from a medical diagnosis?

   1. AThere is no meaningful difference
   2. BNursing names the response; medical names the disease
   3. CNurse prescribers alone may make nursing diagnoses
   4. DThe nursing diagnosis replaces the medical one
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Open RN 4.4: medical diagnoses focus on diseases or other medical problems identified by a physician, physician’s assistant or advanced nurse practitioner; nursing diagnoses focus on the human response to health conditions and life processes and are made independently by registered nurses. Two clients with the same medical diagnosis, such as heart failure, often have different nursing diagnoses.

   Source: Open RN Nursing Fundamentals 2e, 4.4 Diagnosis: Nursing diagnoses vs medical diagnoses

2. Question 2

   Which of the following is subjective assessment data?

   1. ABlood pressure 148/92 mmHg measured on the right arm sitting
   2. BPatient reports pain 7 out of 10 and feels anxious
   3. CWeight 72 kg on the ward chair scales
   4. DTemperature 38.4 C measured tympanically at 08:00
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Open RN 4.3: subjective data is information obtained from the client or family, documented in quotation marks after wording such as "The client reports"; primary data comes from the client, secondary data from family, the chart or other sources. Objective data is anything observed through hearing, sight, smell or touch and is reproducible: vital signs, physical examination findings and laboratory results.

   Source: Open RN Nursing Fundamentals 2e, 4.3 Assessment: Subjective and objective data

3. Question 3

   What makes a care plan expected outcome a SMART outcome?

   1. AStandardised for every patient with the diagnosis
   2. BSpecific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-limited
   3. CFocused on the nursing intervention rather than on the patient outcome
   4. DSigned off by the consultant and the nurse in charge
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Open RN 4.5: outcome statements are client-centred, begin "The client will" and contain the five SMART components: specific, measurable, attainable or action oriented, relevant or realistic, and a time frame for evaluation. Example: "The client will have clear bilateral lung sounds within the next 24 hours." Goals are broad statements of aim; outcomes are the specific, measurable steps towards them.

   Source: Open RN Nursing Fundamentals 2e, 4.5 Outcome identification: Expected outcomes

The practice above shuffles the options each time and keeps your score. 30 more free questions across the paper, with a PDF.

Documents behind these questions

Every fact was checked against the public document named on the answer. This topic draws on:

• OpenStax Clinical Nursing Skills, 1.3 Nursing process
• Open RN Nursing Fundamentals 2e, 4.3 Assessment: Subjective and objective data
• Open RN Nursing Fundamentals 2e, 4.4 Diagnosis: Nursing diagnoses vs medical diagnoses
• Open RN Nursing Fundamentals 2e, 4.5 Outcome identification: Expected outcomes
• Open RN Nursing Fundamentals 2e, 4.8 Evaluation
• Healthy Ireland: The Food Pyramid (2016)
• HSE: Dehydration
• HSE: Obesity
• HSE AMRIC, Prevention of Intravascular Catheter Related Infections (V2.0, June 2026), Aseptic technique
• HSE National Wound Management Guidelines 2018, Clinical Question 4 good practice point and rec. 4.6
• HSE staff: Slips, trips and falls