Teaching the junior student nurse: RCSI aptitude test practice questions

Sample questions from this topic

1. Question 1

   Why does NMBI say students must be given the opportunity to self-assess?

   1. ALearning is active; self-assessment builds insight and professional judgement
   2. BIt reduces the assessment workload of the preceptor on a busy ward
   3. CSelf-assessment replaces the preceptor’s assessment in the final year
   4. DStudents who self-assess accurately are exempt from repeat assessments
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   Answer: A. NMBI QCLE: students need to develop the ability to self-assess as well as to be assessed; learning must be active and interactive, and assessment must include an opportunity for self-assessment. It is one of the four key concepts of clinical assessment, alongside judging clinical abilities, explicit criteria and feedback.

   Source: NMBI: Quality Clinical Learning Environment, clinical learning and assessment

2. Question 2

   During which part of the programme are students not regarded as supernumerary, according to NMBI?

   1. ANight duty placements in the third year
   2. BCommunity placements with the public health nurse
   3. CFirst-year placements, before the foundation module
   4. DRostered service, such as the internship
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   Answer: D. NMBI QCLE: apart from the time when students are engaged in rostered service, they are always regarded as supernumerary to the ward staffing. In the Irish degree programme the rostered period is the final-year internship, when students are paid and counted in the numbers.

   Source: NMBI: Quality Clinical Learning Environment, quality clinical learning environment criteria

3. Question 3

   Besides observable performance, what else does NMBI say clinical assessment must include?

   1. AThe student’s decision-making, attitudes, values and use of evidence
   2. BPeer ratings gathered from other students on the same placement
   3. CWritten examination results and grades achieved in the college
   4. DThe number of procedures completed against the placement target
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   Answer: A. NMBI QCLE: assessment must include observable behaviours and procedures, and also the covert decision-making involved in clinical and ethical judgements, underlying attitudes and values, cultural influences and the use of evidence. Competency-based assessment is not a checklist of behaviours.

   Source: NMBI: Quality Clinical Learning Environment, what is being assessed

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:

• NMBI: Quality Clinical Learning Environment, student support and supervision
• NMBI Nurse Registration Programmes Standards and Requirements, 5th edition, 2.3
• NMBI Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics (2025), Principle 3 standards 7 to 12