Each RN OSCE station assesses a candidate’s ability to perform a specific clinical skill and the candidate’s ability to manage the care of a patient in a holistic manner. The care that is provided within each station should take into consideration the individual situation for that patient and that the care provided is tailored to individual patient needs.

Examples of some considerations about individual patient care include, but are not limited to:

· a patient’s ability to understand simple instructions,

· a patient’s physical capacity,

· the support that a patient has available to them,

· any vision or hearing impairments the patient may have.

The RN OSCE examiner will assess a candidate’s ability to perform a specific clinical skill, formulate an accurate plan of care for the patient based on their assessment findings or any information deemed relevant. Patient safety, and the care they receive, is paramount at all stages within the OSCE stations. Candidates are required to demonstrate/perform the skills, not just talk about what they would do or the care they would provide.

Candidates will not be expected to know specific Australian state and territory clinical policies and procedures. However, they will need to demonstrate an understanding of relevant Australian national standards, international infection control and prevention standards etc. 

What skills will candidates be assessed (stations 2024 )

• 1. Abdominal assessment
• 2. Acute blood transfusion reaction 
• 3. Alcohol withdrawal
• 4. ANTT dressing 
• 5. Blood sugar monitoring 
• 6. Blood transfusion station
• 7. In hospital BlS with AED
• 8. Cardiovascular assessment
• 9. Fall risk assessment
• 10. Fall risk assessment
• 11. Geriatric depression Scale Assessment 
• 12. Hand hygiene procedure
• 13. I/M injection 
• 14. Infection control station 
• 15. Iv fluid administration and Drip rate calculation
• 16. Iv medication 
• 17. Medication administration and Calculating drug dosage
• 18. Mental status examination
• 19. Neurological assessment 
• 20. Paediatric A-G
• 21. Pain assessment
• 22. Pain assessment and non-pharmacologic pain management 
• 23. Physiological observation(A-E)
• 24. Pressure injury assessment 
• 25. Respiratory assessment
• 26. S/c Injection 
• 27. Safe disposal of sharps
• 28. Suicide risk assessment
• 29. Therapeutic communication / ISOBAR communication
• 30. Three-point ID check
• 31. Urine MSU and Dipstick
• 32. Vital signs
• 33. Wound assessment 

Communication Skills

As communication is central to nursing practice, candidates will also be assessed on their communication skills during the RN OSCE. The RN OSCE aims to assess how candidates interact with the patient and their approach to the patient when providing care. This will include a candidate’s ability to provide explanations to the patient about their care in an appropriate manner, as well as the candidates ability to include the patient or family in their care where appropriate. Candidates may be required to convey clinical information about the patient to another health practitioner or RN OSCE examiner, and should be familiar with the Introduction, Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation (ISBAR) communication approach.

What does the examiner assess in relation to communication?

The RN OSCE examiner will assess the full range of communication skills (verbal, non-verbal and written) by observing the interaction between the candidate and:

· a Simulated Patient

· a Manikin, or

· a person playing a second RN or other health practitioner role.

The candidate’s written communication skills will be assessed by any clinical documentation they record about the patient required in some stations.

Candidates should speak and interact with the patient, either Simulated Patient or a Manikin, as they would any real person/patient that they are meeting for the first time.

The RN OSCE examiner will also look at a candidate’s approach to the patient and/or person playing a second RN or other health practitioner role throughout the examination and assess their communication skills such as:

•  Clearly explaining care, diagnosis, investigations and/or treatments,
•  Involving the patient in decision-making,
• Communicating with relatives and other health care professionals,
•  Seeking and obtaining informed consent,
•  Active listening,
•  Dealing appropriately with an anxious person or anxious relatives,
•  Providing clear instructions on discharge,
•  Demonstrating compassion and care during communication, and
•  Clear documentation.

Examination Day

How long will the OSCE go for?

• Candidates will be allocated to either an AM or PM session. Each session will go for approximately 3-3.5hrs.

• How many exam stations will there be?

• Each candidate will be expected to participate in 10 individual stations. Each station is allocated ten (10) minutes which is allocated as follows:
• Two (2) minutes – Reading time outside of the exam room
•  Eight (8) minutes – Interaction or performance time inside of the room.

Will there be bells to signify the change of times during the exam?

• AHS will use a series of bells sounds and announcements to signify the timings during the examination. The sounds will be as follows;  
• Bell
• Start of Examination - begin reading time 
• Bell
• End of Reading time – enter station room
• Announcement
• Warning – you have 1 minute left of interaction time
• Bell/Announcement
• End of Station time – move onto next station and prepare for reading

Can I ask for assistant during the examination?

• If you need assistance at any time during the examination, you can do so by requesting this from an examination invigilator. There will be invigilators located on the exam circuit who are there to assist you should you require it.