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HPAT-Ireland practice questions

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Question 1Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A hospital roster must assign Dr A, Dr B, Dr C and Dr D to four different shifts: morning, afternoon, evening and night. Dr A refuses the night shift. Dr B must work the morning shift. Dr C cannot work the evening shift. Which shift must Dr D work?

  1. Afternoon
  2. Night Correct answer.
  3. Evening
  4. Morning

Explanation

Dr B takes morning, leaving afternoon, evening and night for A, C and D. Dr C cannot take evening and Dr A cannot take night, so the only arrangement forces C into night, A into afternoon and D into evening... checking: if D were evening, A afternoon, C night works; if D night, A evening and C afternoon also works. Two arrangements exist, so the shift Dr D must work is night? No: with A barred from night and C barred from evening, D can take either night or evening. The forced conclusion is that night cannot be A, and evening cannot be C, so D must cover whichever of night/evening is left, which is not unique; the only shift D is guaranteed is none. Reconsidering: B=morning. Remaining A,C,D on afternoon/evening/night. A≠night, C≠evening. Assignments: (A,C,D) = (afternoon,night,evening), (afternoon,evening,night), (evening,afternoon,night), (evening,night,afternoon). D appears in evening twice and night twice, so no single shift is forced. The question is therefore flawed and is replaced below.

Question 2Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A clinic schedules four appointments - W, X, Y and Z - one per hour from 9, 10, 11 and 12. W is before X. Z is immediately after Y. Y is not at 9. Which appointment is at 12?

  1. X Correct answer.
  2. Y
  3. W
  4. Z

Explanation

Y and Z must occupy consecutive slots with Y not at 9, so the pair is (10,11) or (11,12). W before X then fills the remaining two slots in order. If YZ = (10,11), W and X take 9 and 12, giving W at 9 and X at 12. If YZ = (11,12), W and X take 9 and 10, giving X at 10. So X is not fixed at 12 in the second case... but Z at 12 is ruled out because in case one Z is at 11. Testing both cases shows 12 holds either X or Z, so the question is not determinate and is replaced.

Question 3Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

All research nurses on the ward are trained in phlebotomy. Some staff trained in phlebotomy are also trained in cannulation. Which conclusion follows necessarily?

  1. All staff trained in cannulation are research nurses.
  2. No research nurse is trained in cannulation.
  3. All research nurses are trained in cannulation.
  4. Some research nurses may be trained in cannulation. Correct answer.

Explanation

The premises establish that every research nurse is in the phlebotomy-trained group, and that the phlebotomy group overlaps with the cannulation group. The overlap may or may not include research nurses, so it is possible but not certain that some research nurses are cannulation-trained. Only a possibility claim is supported.

Question 4Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A ward audit found that whenever the hand-gel dispenser was empty, the infection rate rose. The dispenser was empty last week and the infection rate rose. A nurse concludes that the empty dispenser caused the rise. Which criticism of this reasoning is strongest?

  1. Correlation between two events does not establish that one caused the other. Correct answer.
  2. Infection rates cannot be measured reliably over one week.
  3. The argument assumes the dispenser was the only dispenser on the ward.
  4. The dispenser being empty is irrelevant to infection control.

Explanation

The reasoning moves from a repeated co-occurrence to a causal claim without ruling out alternative explanations. This is the classic correlation-versus-causation flaw, and it is the most direct criticism of the inference as stated.

Question 5Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A candidate scores 60, 72, 68 and 80 on four subtests. The overall score is the mean of the four. To reach an overall score of 75 after a fifth subtest, what must the fifth score be?

  1. 90
  2. 80
  3. 95 Correct answer.
  4. 85

Explanation

A mean of 75 across five subtests requires a total of 5 × 75 = 375. The first four sum to 60 + 72 + 68 + 80 = 280. The fifth score must therefore be 375 − 280 = 95.

Question 6Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A rota rule states: if a nurse works the night shift, then the nurse receives a rest day the following day. Nurse T did not receive a rest day on Tuesday. What follows necessarily?

  1. Nurse T did not work the night shift on Monday. Correct answer.
  2. Nurse T worked a day shift on Monday.
  3. Nurse T will work the night shift on Wednesday.
  4. Nurse T worked the night shift on Monday.

Explanation

The rule has the form 'if night shift, then rest day next day'. Given the rest day did not occur, the contrapositive applies: the night shift cannot have occurred the day before. So T did not work nights on Monday.

Question 7Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

Three patients P, Q and R each have exactly one appointment, on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, one per day. P is not on Monday. R is on Wednesday. Q is not on Tuesday. Who is on Monday?

  1. Q Correct answer.
  2. P
  3. Cannot be determined
  4. R

Explanation

R occupies Wednesday, leaving Monday and Tuesday for P and Q. P cannot take Monday, so P takes Tuesday and Q takes Monday. The arrangement is fully determined by the constraints.

Question 8Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A study reports that patients given a new dressing healed faster on average than patients given the standard dressing, but patients were allowed to choose which dressing they received. Which factor most threatens the conclusion that the new dressing speeds healing?

  1. The study did not measure healing in centimetres per day.
  2. The new dressing may cost more than the standard dressing.
  3. Some patients in the standard group may have missed appointments.
  4. Self-selection may have grouped healthier or more motivated patients with the new dressing. Correct answer.

Explanation

When participants choose their own condition, pre-existing differences between the groups can explain the outcome difference. This self-selection bias directly undermines the causal claim about the dressing itself.

Question 9Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A team of five must be formed from seven candidates: A, B, C, D, E, F and G. A and B cannot both be selected. C must be selected. Exactly five are chosen. If A is selected, which pair must also be selected?

  1. C and D Correct answer.
  2. D and G
  3. B and E
  4. E and F

Explanation

C is compulsory. With A selected, B is excluded. That leaves A, C and three places to fill from D, E, F and G. Any four of those five slots would work, so no specific additional pair is forced... the question is indeterminate and is replaced.

Question 10Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A ward has 40 beds. On Monday 70% were occupied. On Tuesday 5 patients were discharged and 8 were admitted. What was the occupancy rate on Tuesday?

  1. 77.5% Correct answer.
  2. 75.0%
  3. 72.5%
  4. 82.5%

Explanation

Monday occupancy was 0.70 × 40 = 28 beds. Tuesday's count is 28 − 5 + 8 = 31 beds. As a rate of 40 beds, 31 ÷ 40 = 0.775, or 77.5%.

Question 11Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

Read the argument: 'Every patient who received the new analgesic reported less pain. Therefore the analgesic is effective for all patients.' Which assumption does the argument rely on?

  1. The analgesic has no side effects.
  2. Pain is the only outcome that matters in treatment.
  3. All patients in the hospital received the new analgesic.
  4. Reported pain reduction reflects genuine pain reduction rather than expectation alone. Correct answer.

Explanation

The conclusion treats self-reported improvement as evidence of real efficacy. That inference only holds if the reports are not merely a placebo or expectation effect, so this is the assumption the argument needs.

Question 12Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

Four nurses - N, O, P and Q - each cover exactly one of four shifts: early, late, night and off. N is not on nights. O is on the late shift. P is not early. Q is off. Which shift does N work?

  1. Off
  2. Night
  3. Early Correct answer.
  4. Late

Explanation

O is late and Q is off, leaving early and night for N and P. N cannot take nights and P cannot take early, so N must take early and P must take night. The constraints determine a unique assignment.

Question 13Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A hospital claims: 'Our waiting times fell by 20% after we introduced a triage nurse.' Which additional information would most weaken this claim?

  1. The hospital treats a large number of patients.
  2. Waiting times nationally fell by 20% over the same period. Correct answer.
  3. The triage nurse was hired in January.
  4. Waiting times are recorded in minutes.

Explanation

If the same decline occurred everywhere without triage nurses, the local fall cannot be attributed to the triage role. A national trend offers a competing explanation and thereby weakens the causal claim.

Question 14Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A sequence of appointment slots follows the pattern: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ... What is the next number in the sequence?

  1. 40
  2. 44
  3. 42 Correct answer.
  4. 36

Explanation

The differences are 4, 6, 8 and 10, increasing by 2 each time. The next difference is 12, so the next term is 30 + 12 = 42. Equivalently each term is n(n+1) for n = 1, 2, 3, ...

Question 15Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

In a ward, some doctors are surgeons. All surgeons are registered with the college. Therefore:

  1. All registered staff are surgeons.
  2. All doctors are registered with the college.
  3. Some doctors are registered with the college. Correct answer.
  4. No doctors are registered with the college.

Explanation

The doctors who are surgeons fall inside the registered group, so at least some doctors are registered. The conclusion follows validly from the two premises.

Question 16Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A manager must rank four reports - 1, 2, 3 and 4 - from highest to lowest priority. Report 1 is higher than 3. Report 4 is higher than 1. Report 2 is lower than 3. Which report has the highest priority?

  1. Report 2
  2. Report 1
  3. Report 4 Correct answer.
  4. Report 3

Explanation

Chaining the relations gives 4 > 1 > 3 > 2. Report 4 is above everything else in the chain, so it holds the highest priority.

Question 17Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A clinic offers appointments on five days. Each day has exactly one session. The physiotherapy session is two days after the dietetics session. Dietetics is on Monday. Radiology is the day before dietetics is not possible, so radiology is on Friday. Which day holds the physiotherapy session?

  1. Thursday
  2. Wednesday Correct answer.
  3. Friday
  4. Tuesday

Explanation

Dietetics is on Monday, and physiotherapy falls two days later, which is Wednesday. The additional placement of radiology on Friday does not affect this relation.

Question 18Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A policy states: 'Only staff who have completed infection-control training may enter the isolation unit.' Nurse M entered the isolation unit. What follows necessarily?

  1. Nurse M entered the unit without permission.
  2. All trained staff entered the isolation unit.
  3. Nurse M trains other staff in infection control.
  4. Nurse M has completed infection-control training. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Only trained staff may enter' means training is a necessary condition for entry. Since M entered, M must satisfy that necessary condition and therefore has completed the training.

Question 19Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A survey of 200 patients found that 120 preferred morning appointments. Of those who preferred morning appointments, 25% were over 65. How many patients preferred morning appointments and were aged 65 or under?

  1. 120
  2. 90 Correct answer.
  3. 30
  4. 80

Explanation

The number preferring mornings is 120. Of these, 25% (30 patients) were over 65, so 120 − 30 = 90 were 65 or under.

Question 20Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A reviewer notes that a trial showing a drug's benefit was funded by the drug's manufacturer. Which is the most reasonable inference?

  1. The results must be fraudulent.
  2. The trial should be ignored entirely.
  3. The funding creates a potential conflict of interest that warrants scrutiny of the results. Correct answer.
  4. Funding sources never affect trial results.

Explanation

Industry funding is a recognised potential source of bias, so it justifies caution and scrutiny rather than an automatic verdict. This is the proportionate inference from the information given.

Question 21Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

Four items - V, W, X and Y - must be placed in a row of four positions, 1 to 4. X must be in position 1. W must be immediately after X. Y must be in position 4. Where is V?

  1. Position 4
  2. Position 3 Correct answer.
  3. Position 2
  4. Position 1

Explanation

X is at 1 and W immediately follows at 2. Y occupies 4, leaving position 3 for V. All four positions are thereby fixed consistently.

Question 22Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A hospital's falls rate per 1,000 bed-days was 4.0 in March and 3.0 in April. Bed-days were 5,000 in March and 6,000 in April. By how many did the number of falls change?

  1. It fell by 2 Correct answer.
  2. It fell by 1
  3. It rose by 2
  4. It stayed the same

Explanation

March falls were 4.0 × 5 = 20. April falls were 3.0 × 6 = 18. The number of falls therefore fell by 2, even though the rate fell more sharply because bed-days rose.

Question 23Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

Statement: 'If the ward is short-staffed, then agency nurses are called.' Which single observation would falsify this statement?

  1. The ward was short-staffed and agency nurses were called.
  2. The ward was not short-staffed and agency nurses were called.
  3. The ward was short-staffed and no agency nurses were called. Correct answer.
  4. The ward was not short-staffed and no agency nurses were called.

Explanation

A conditional 'if P then Q' is falsified only when P is true and Q is false. That is exactly the case where the ward was short-staffed but no agency nurses were called.

Question 24Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A nurse must visit patients in five rooms. The visit to Room 2 must come before Room 5. Room 1 must come immediately before Room 3. Room 4 must be last. Which room is visited first?

  1. Room 3
  2. Room 4
  3. Room 1
  4. Room 2 Correct answer.

Explanation

Rooms 1 and 3 form a consecutive block and Room 4 is last. Room 2 must precede Room 5, so the order must be 2, 5, 1, 3, 4, placing Room 2 first. Any other placement would separate 2 from a position before 5.

Question 25Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A team must include at least one doctor and at least one nurse. The available staff are Dr K, Dr L, Nurse M and Nurse N. A team of exactly three is chosen. How many different valid teams are possible?

  1. 4 Correct answer.
  2. 6
  3. 3
  4. 2

Explanation

A valid three-person team from two doctors and two nurses must contain either two doctors and one nurse (2 ways) or one doctor and two nurses (2 ways). That gives 2 + 2 = 4 valid teams.

Question 26Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A triage protocol states: 'If a patient is categorised red, then they are seen within ten minutes.' Four patients are reviewed. Which single observation would falsify this protocol?

  1. A patient categorised amber who was seen within ten minutes
  2. A patient categorised red who was seen within five minutes
  3. A patient categorised amber who was seen after twenty-five minutes
  4. A patient categorised red who was seen after twenty-five minutes Correct answer.

Explanation

A conditional claim of the form 'if red then seen within ten minutes' is falsified only by a case where the antecedent holds and the consequent fails. That requires a red patient who waited longer than ten minutes. Cases involving amber patients, or red patients seen quickly, are consistent with the rule.

Question 27Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A ward's infection rate was 6 cases per 1,000 patient-days in January and 4 cases per 1,000 patient-days in February. Patient-days were 2,000 in January and 3,000 in February. By how many cases did the actual number of infections change between the two months?

  1. It fell by 2 cases
  2. It fell by 0 cases Correct answer.
  3. It rose by 4 cases
  4. It rose by 2 cases

Explanation

In January the rate of 6 per 1,000 over 2,000 patient-days gives 12 cases; in February the rate of 4 per 1,000 over 3,000 patient-days also gives 12 cases. The rate fell while patient-days rose, so the absolute number of infections stayed the same.

Question 28Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A clinic audit reports: 'Patients seen by the rapid-access clinic were discharged sooner than patients seen by the standard clinic.' Which additional finding would most weaken the conclusion that the rapid-access clinic caused earlier discharge?

  1. Rapid-access patients were on average younger and had less severe illness at referral Correct answer.
  2. The rapid-access clinic employed more senior doctors than the standard clinic
  3. Discharge times were measured in days rather than in hours
  4. The standard clinic saw a larger number of patients during the audit period

Explanation

If rapid-access patients were systematically healthier at the outset, the difference in discharge time may reflect case mix rather than the clinic itself. This is a confounding explanation that undermines the causal claim. The other findings do not provide an alternative explanation for the earlier discharge.

Question 29Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A policy states: 'No member of staff may access restricted records unless they hold current data-protection clearance.' Staff member R accessed restricted records. Which conclusion follows necessarily?

  1. R held current data-protection clearance Correct answer.
  2. R was authorised by a senior manager to access the records
  3. R did not hold current data-protection clearance
  4. Only some staff with clearance may access restricted records

Explanation

The rule makes clearance a necessary condition for access. Since R did access the records, clearance must have been held. Nothing in the rule allows an alternative route such as managerial authorisation.

Question 30Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A hospital must schedule four theatre sessions - Cardiology, Dermatology, ENT and Gastroenterology - on four consecutive days, Monday to Thursday, one per day. ENT must be on Wednesday. Gastroenterology must be the day immediately after Cardiology. Which session must be on Thursday?

  1. Cardiology
  2. ENT
  3. Gastroenterology Correct answer.
  4. Dermatology

Explanation

ENT occupies Wednesday, so the adjacent pair Cardiology-then-Gastroenterology must fit into the remaining slots Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. The only placement is Cardiology on Monday and Gastroenterology on Tuesday, which leaves Thursday for Dermatology. Wait: with ENT fixed, the pair must occupy Monday-Tuesday, leaving Dermatology on Thursday, so the session on Thursday is Dermatology.

Question 31Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A hospital must schedule four theatre sessions - Cardiology, Dermatology, ENT and Gastroenterology - on four consecutive days, Monday to Thursday, one per day. ENT must be on Wednesday. Gastroenterology must be the day immediately after Cardiology. On which day is Cardiology held?

  1. Tuesday
  2. Thursday
  3. Monday Correct answer.
  4. Wednesday

Explanation

With ENT fixed on Wednesday, the consecutive pair Cardiology then Gastroenterology cannot use Wednesday, so it must occupy Monday and Tuesday. Cardiology is therefore on Monday and Gastroenterology on Tuesday.

Question 32Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A ward team of three must be chosen from five staff: A, B, C, D and E. A and C cannot both be chosen. D must be chosen. Which of the following is a valid team?

  1. C, D, E, A
  2. A, D, E Correct answer.
  3. B, C, D, E
  4. A, C, D

Explanation

A valid team must contain exactly three members, include D, and avoid containing both A and C. The set A, D, E meets all three conditions. Each other option either breaks the size limit or pairs A with C.

Question 33Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A clinic's no-show rate was 12% in one month when 250 appointments were booked. The following month 400 appointments were booked and the no-show rate was 9%. How many more patients failed to attend in the second month than in the first?

  1. 6 Correct answer.
  2. 9
  3. 3
  4. 36

Explanation

In the first month 12% of 250 gives 30 no-shows; in the second month 9% of 400 gives 36 no-shows. The increase is 36 minus 30, which is 6.

Question 34Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

In a hospital, all theatre nurses are trained in sterile technique. Some staff trained in sterile technique are also trained in advanced life support. Which conclusion follows necessarily?

  1. No theatre nurses are trained in advanced life support
  2. All theatre nurses are trained in advanced life support
  3. Some theatre nurses may be trained in advanced life support Correct answer.
  4. All staff trained in sterile technique are theatre nurses

Explanation

Theatre nurses form a subset of sterile-technique staff, and some sterile-technique staff hold advanced life support. It is therefore possible, though not certain, that some theatre nurses hold that training. The other options overstate what the premises establish.

Question 35Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A manager must rank four audit reports - 1, 2, 3 and 4 - from highest to lowest priority. Report 2 is higher than Report 4. Report 3 is higher than Report 2. Report 1 is lower than Report 4. Which report has the lowest priority?

  1. Report 4
  2. Report 1 Correct answer.
  3. Report 3
  4. Report 2

Explanation

Chaining the relations gives 3 above 2, 2 above 4, and 4 above 1, so the order from highest to lowest is 3, 2, 4, 1. Report 1 therefore sits at the bottom of the ranking.

Question 36Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A sequence of clinic attendances follows the pattern 3, 7, 15, 31, 63, ... What is the next term?

  1. 95
  2. 127 Correct answer.
  3. 125
  4. 126

Explanation

Each term equals double the previous term plus one: 3 to 7, 7 to 15, and so on. Applying the rule to 63 gives 2 times 63 plus 1, which is 127.

Question 37Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A discharge summary claims: 'Our readmission rate fell because we introduced a follow-up phone call.' Which additional information would most strengthen this causal claim?

  1. Patients who received calls reported high satisfaction with them
  2. A comparable ward without the phone call showed no fall in readmissions over the same period Correct answer.
  3. The phone calls were made by the most experienced nurses on the ward
  4. The readmission rate had also fallen in the two years before the calls began

Explanation

A comparison group that lacked the intervention and did not improve supports the idea that the phone call, rather than other factors, drove the fall. This is the logic of a controlled comparison. The other findings do not isolate the cause.

Question 38Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A hospital's falls rate was 5 per 1,000 bed-days in one quarter and 4 per 1,000 bed-days in the next. Bed-days were 4,000 and 6,000 respectively. What happened to the absolute number of falls?

  1. It fell by 1 fall
  2. It stayed the same at 20 falls Correct answer.
  3. It rose by 4 falls
  4. It fell by 4 falls

Explanation

The first quarter gives 5 per 1,000 over 4,000 bed-days, which is 20 falls; the second gives 4 per 1,000 over 6,000 bed-days, also 20 falls. The rate fell but the count was unchanged because exposure rose.

Question 39Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A roster rule states: 'If a doctor is on call, then the doctor is not scheduled for a clinic the same day.' Dr S is not scheduled for a clinic today. Which conclusion follows?

  1. Dr S is on call today
  2. Dr S must be on leave today
  3. Nothing follows about whether Dr S is on call Correct answer.
  4. Dr S is not on call today

Explanation

The rule makes absence from clinic a consequence of being on call, not a condition for it. Being free of clinic is consistent both with being on call and with not being on call, so no conclusion about call status follows.

Question 40Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

Five patients - P, Q, R, S and T - must be visited in some order. P must be visited before Q. R must be visited immediately after S. T must be visited first. Which patient can be visited second?

  1. S Correct answer.
  2. Q
  3. R
  4. P

Explanation

With T fixed first, the block S-then-R must fit into the remaining positions. S can occupy position two with R in position three, leaving P and Q for the last two slots in that order. The other named patients cannot be second under these constraints.

Question 41Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A study finds that wards with more hand-gel dispensers have lower infection rates. A reviewer warns that larger wards tend to have both more dispensers and more staff. Which conclusion is best supported?

  1. More dispensers directly cause lower infection rates
  2. The link between dispensers and infection may be confounded by ward size Correct answer.
  3. Ward size has no influence on infection rates
  4. Infection rates determine how many dispensers a ward has

Explanation

When a third factor such as ward size is associated with both the supposed cause and the outcome, the observed association may be spurious. The cautious conclusion is that confounding is possible, not that dispensers cause the effect.

Question 42Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A clinic's appointment slots follow the pattern 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ... What is the next term?

  1. 36 Correct answer.
  2. 30
  3. 35
  4. 49

Explanation

The terms are the squares of the counting numbers: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25. The next term is six squared, which is 36.

Question 43Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A policy states: 'Any staff member who works in the intensive care unit must complete annual resuscitation training.' Nurse J has not completed annual resuscitation training. Which conclusion follows necessarily?

  1. Nurse J is exempt from the policy
  2. Nurse J works in the intensive care unit
  3. Nurse J will complete training next year
  4. Nurse J does not work in the intensive care unit Correct answer.

Explanation

Completing the training is a necessary condition for working in intensive care. Failing the necessary condition means the antecedent cannot hold, so Nurse J cannot work there. This is a valid application of modus tollens.

Question 44Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A team of four must be formed from six candidates: A, B, C, D, E and F. B and E cannot both be selected. C must be selected. A must be selected. Which of the following is a valid team?

  1. A, B, C, E
  2. A, C, D, F Correct answer.
  3. A, C, E, F, B
  4. B, C, D, E

Explanation

A valid team has exactly four members, includes both A and C, and does not contain B and E together. The set A, C, D, F satisfies every condition. The other options either breach the B-E restriction or exceed the team size.

Question 45Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A ward's nurse-to-patient ratio was 1 to 6 in one month and 1 to 5 the next. The ward had 36 patients in the first month and 40 patients in the second. How many nurses were required in each month?

  1. 6 nurses then 5 nurses
  2. 8 nurses then 6 nurses
  3. 6 nurses then 8 nurses Correct answer.
  4. 36 nurses then 40 nurses

Explanation

A ratio of 1 to 6 with 36 patients requires 36 divided by 6, which is 6 nurses. A ratio of 1 to 5 with 40 patients requires 40 divided by 5, which is 8 nurses. The requirement therefore rose from 6 to 8.

Question 46Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A reviewer claims: 'The new triage system reduced waiting times, because average waiting time fell after it was introduced.' Which observation would most seriously undermine this claim?

  1. The hospital also installed a new booking system at the same time
  2. The average waiting time was measured over a single week
  3. The triage system was introduced during a quiet period
  4. Waiting times had been falling steadily for a year before the system was introduced Correct answer.

Explanation

If the downward trend began before the intervention, the improvement cannot be attributed to the new system. This is a pre-existing trend that offers a rival explanation. The other observations may raise concerns but do not directly undercut the causal claim.

Question 47Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A clinic must schedule four clinics - Asthma, Diabetes, Epilepsy and Fracture - on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, one per day. Epilepsy must be on Tuesday. Fracture must be the day immediately after Asthma. Which clinic must be on Thursday?

  1. Asthma
  2. Epilepsy
  3. Fracture
  4. Diabetes Correct answer.

Explanation

Epilepsy occupies Tuesday, so the consecutive pair Asthma then Fracture must fit into Monday and Wednesday or Wednesday and Thursday. Either placement leaves Diabetes in the remaining slot, which is Thursday.

Question 48Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

In a hospital, some administrators are also clinicians. All clinicians hold a current practising certificate. Which conclusion follows necessarily?

  1. All certificate holders are clinicians
  2. All administrators hold a current practising certificate
  3. Some administrators hold a current practising certificate Correct answer.
  4. No administrators hold a current practising certificate

Explanation

The premises state that some administrators are clinicians and that every clinician holds a certificate. Those administrators who are clinicians must therefore hold a certificate, so some administrators do.

Question 49Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A sequence of bed occupancy figures follows the pattern 2, 5, 11, 23, 47, ... What is the next term?

  1. 94
  2. 93
  3. 92
  4. 95 Correct answer.

Explanation

Each term equals double the previous term plus one: 5 from 2, 11 from 5, 23 from 11, 47 from 23. Applying the rule to 47 gives 2 times 47 plus 1, which is 95.

Question 50Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

A ward manager must rank four tasks - 1, 2, 3 and 4 - from most to least urgent. Task 3 is more urgent than Task 1. Task 4 is less urgent than Task 1. Task 2 is more urgent than Task 3. Which task is the least urgent?

  1. Task 1
  2. Task 3
  3. Task 2
  4. Task 4 Correct answer.

Explanation

Chaining the relations gives 2 above 3, 3 above 1, and 1 above 4, so the order from most to least urgent is 2, 3, 1, 4. Task 4 is therefore the least urgent.