Pain: RCSI aptitude test practice questions
About this topic
Pain on the RCSI theory paper
OPQRST assessment, pain scales, acute and chronic pain, analgesia principles and the psychosocial side of pain.
20 multiple-choice questions, each with an explanation and the document it was checked against. Three questions are free; the pass opens the other 17 and every other topic. Wrong answers come back first the next time you practise, and a question counts as mastered after two correct answers in a row.
Sample questions from this topic
Question 1
What does the HSE warn about codeine?
- ANo significant side effects at over-the-counter doses in adults
- BSafe in unlimited doses if taken with food and plenty of water
- CBreathing difficulty, addiction; 3-day OTC limit
- DBest absorbed when taken with alcohol
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Answer: C. HSE: too much codeine can cause difficulty breathing and unconsciousness, it can be addictive, and over-the-counter combination codeine products should not be taken for more than 3 days without a prescription.
Source: HSE: Codeine
Question 2
A dying patient becomes agitated. What does NICE advise the nurse to consider?
- AUse restraint for safety
- BGive a sedative immediately to settle the patient and the family
- CAccept it as a normal part of dying that needs no further assessment
- DExplore causes such as pain, retention or constipation
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Answer: D. NICE NG31 1.5.23: explore possible causes of agitation with the person and those close to them; it may signal unrelieved pain, urinary retention, constipation or other bodily needs, which are treated before considering sedation.
Source: NICE NG31 Care of dying adults in the last days of life (2015), 1.5.23
Question 3
How is the Wong-Baker FACES pain rating scale used with a child?
- AThe child picks the face that matches their pain
- BThe nurse times how long the child cries
- CThe nurse picks the face the child seems to show
- DThe child rates on a 0 to 100 scale
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Answer: A. Open RN: the FACES scale is for children and others who cannot quantify pain on a 0 to 10 scale. The nurse explains that each face represents a person with no pain, some pain or a lot of pain (face 0 does not hurt, face 10 hurts as much as you can imagine, crying is not required) and the child chooses the face that best represents their pain. The nurse does not select a face based on how the child appears.
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: