Osteoporosis: RCSI aptitude test practice questions

Sample questions from this topic

1. Question 1

   On the RCSI neurovascular assessment form, which parameters are recorded for the affected limb at each observation?

   1. ABlood pressure, pulse, respirations, temperature and oxygen saturation, charted as an early warning score
   2. BWound appearance, drain output, dressing integrity and the position of the cast or splint
   3. CGlasgow Coma Scale, pupil size and reaction, and limb power graded out of five on each side
   4. DColour, movement, sensation, pulses, temperature, capillary refill, positioning, pain score and oedema
   Show answer

   Answer: D. RCSI Neurovascular Assessment form: the parameters are colour (normal, pale, pink, red, dusky, cyanosed, bruised), movement, sensation (normal, pins and needles, altered but returning, absent), pulses, temperature (warm, cool, cold, hot), capillary refill (brisk under 2 seconds, sluggish over 2 seconds, absent), positioning, pain score on a visual analogue scale and oedema. Tip on the form: always compare the observation with the unaffected limb.

   Source: RCSI: Neurovascular Assessment form

2. Question 2

   A patient in a below-knee cast has pain that analgesia does not relieve and that gets worse when you passively stretch the toes. What does the RCSI form flag?

   1. ANormal post-operative pain: repeat the pain score in an hour
   2. BA too-loose cast that needs re-padding
   3. CPossible compartment syndrome: escalate immediately
   4. DReferred pain from the hip that needs an X-ray
   Show answer

   Answer: C. RCSI Neurovascular Assessment form, ALERT line: pain unrelieved by analgesia with an increase of pain on passive stretch may indicate compartment syndrome. This is a limb-threatening emergency; the surgical team is called at once, the limb is kept at heart level and any constricting cast or dressing is released as instructed.

   Source: RCSI: Neurovascular Assessment form, alert

3. Question 3

   How is a pedal pulse graded on the RCSI neurovascular form?

   1. APresent or absent only, ticked once per shift by the nurse doing the observations
   2. B0 absent, 1+ weak or thready, 2+ difficult, 3+ easy, 4+ strong or normal, with Doppler boxes
   3. CStrong, medium or weak, compared with the radial pulse on the same side of the body, every four hours
   4. DRegular or irregular, with the rate per minute and a comparison with the apex beat
   Show answer

   Answer: B. RCSI form pulse scale: 0 = absent on palpation, 1+ = weak or thready, 2+ = difficult to palpate, 3+ = easy to palpate, 4+ = strong palpation or normal, with extra boxes for available on Doppler, absent on Doppler and not accessible (for example under a cast). The pulses on the form’s diagram are temporal, carotid, brachial, femoral, radial, popliteal, posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis.

   Source: RCSI: Neurovascular Assessment form, pulses

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:

• Irish Osteoporosis Society: About osteoporosis
• NICE NG249 Falls: assessment and prevention (2025), 1.1
• RCSI: Neurovascular Assessment form