In part 3 of our blog series; What to expect in your OSCE exam, we briefly discussed the first two stations in the OSCE exam, Assessment and Planning, plus some useful tips on these areas and what to expect when you arrive for your exam.
In our 4th installment in the series I will follow with the next two stations: Implementation and Evaluation.
I - Implementation
This station is another skill station that assesses your skill in administering drug or medical care, within a 15 minute time limit. Again, the skills that you will be marked against are based on the list that will be provided to you in the CIB.
You will likely have a mannequin as the patient, and your verbal communication skills will be assessed on this station by the assessor. Following our tip from the Assessment station in our previous blog, you must be professional when undergoing this station and communicate properly to the mannequin as your patient.
Things to remember:
Ensure you thoroughly read the patient charts
Always check the label, and expiry date of the drug to be administered (if required)
Following this, ensure you administer the correct dosage of the drug
Ensure the patient signs for the medication prior to administering. The assessor will clarify this action for you
E - Evaluation
The 4th station is a quiet bay, an area or, "bay" in which you will sit and write either a transfer or discharge form or perhaps, another type of nursing form for the patient. You will be given 15 minutes to conduct this and will be monitored by the assessor. Again, as with our advice on the Planning station, familiarise yourself with the documents you will be using, or likely to be using. We provide all candidates on our OSCE training course with relevant material in the members area. Don't worry if you are not a member with us though, as these are also available in your NILE.
During this stage, you will be given access to your previous documents made in the last 3 stations to help you with the relevant details.
Things to remember:
Ensure you thoroughly read your notes, documents and the details you have written on the documents
Only use approved abbreviations on the documents. If in doubt, don't use abbreviations
Use a black ball point pen
If you make a mistake, legibly cross it out and start again
Ensure your writing is legible
Then, double check all your information! Often, the date or reason for omissions is missed.
Last but not least, do not panic about the time you have in these stations. The examination process is NOT designed to trip you up. You are being assessed on your professional skills and knowledge using the appropriate aides to hand.
In the next installment, we cover the last two stations Professional Behaviour and Evidence Based Practices. Keep tuned.