The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has introduced several important updates to the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) for nursing candidates, effective from April 2025. These changes are designed to reflect current clinical best practices and make the assessment process more streamlined and relevant to modern healthcare environments.
๐ Key Changes to the OSCE
๐ Removal of Selected APIE Scenarios
As part of the streamlining process, the NMC has removed two scenarios from the Assessment, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (APIE) stations:
Asthma
Anxiety & Depression
This reduces the total number of APIE scenarios from 12 to 10. Nursing candidates are advised to update their study plans accordingly and focus on the revised list of scenarios.
โ Stations Removed from the OSCE
To better align with current clinical relevance, several stations have been removed:
Professional Values and Behaviours
Concealment of bed status
Confidentiality
False representation
Professional confrontation
Evidence-Based Practice
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Use of cranberry juice for urinary tract infections
Clinical Skills Station
Nasopharyngeal suctioning
These changes allow for a sharper focus on essential and up-to-date clinical skills and ethical considerations.
๐ Modification to the Subcutaneous Injection Station
A small but notable change has been made to the Subcutaneous Injection station. Candidates no longer need to verbalise the administration time (which was previously expected to be 10โ30 seconds). This update is intended to simplify the procedure and reflect real-world clinical practice more accurately.
๐ Updated List of OSCE Stations (from April 2025)
๐ฉบ APIE Stations
Assessment
Planning
Implementation
Evaluation
๐งช Clinical Skills Stations
Administration of Inhaled Medication
Administration of Suppository
Aseptic Non-Touch Technique (ANTT)
Blood Glucose Monitoring
Bowel Assessment
Catheter Specimen of Urine (CSU)
Fine-Bore Nasogastric Tube Insertion
Fluid Balance
Intramuscular Injection
Intravenous Flush and Visual Infusion Phlebitis (VIP) Assessment
Mid-Stream Sample of Urine (MSU) and Urinalysis
Nutritional Assessment
Oral Care Plan
Oxygen Therapy
Pain Assessment
Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR)
Pressure Area Assessment
Removal of Urinary Catheter
Subcutaneous Injection
Wound Assessment
โ๏ธ Professional Values Stations
Bullying
Drug Error
Falsifying Observations
Falsifying Timesheets
Hospital Food
Impaired Performance
Laboratory Results
Possible Abuse
Racism
Social Media
Witnessed Abuse
๐ Evidence-Based Practice Stations
Ankle Sprain
Bedside Handover
Cervical Screening
Dementia and Music
Diabetes
Female Myocardial Infarction (MI)
Fever in Children
Restraint
Saline versus Tap Water
Smoking Cessation
Honey-Dressing
๐ What This Means for Candidates
With these updates in place, it's essential for candidates preparing for the OSCE to align their revision strategies with the new structure. By focusing on the updated list of stations and eliminating outdated scenarios, candidates can better prepare for success in a modern clinical setting.
For more detailed guidance or support in preparing for the OSCE, be sure to consult the NMC's official resources.
We offer an OSCE Preperation Course for Overseas Nurses.
Click here for OSCE preperation tips.
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