OSCE
Registered Nurse Objective Structured Clinical Examination (RN OSCE) is a test that
examines foreign registered nurses. RN OSCE is administered to such nurses but
desiring to become registered as nurses in Australia. After the candidate
successfully passed the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN), they will proceed with OSCE or
objective structured clinical examination which is a behavioral assessment and
developed to determine if the IQNM demonstrate the knowledge, skills and competence.
Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) is multiple choice while OSCE is an actual exam. OSCE
will simulate a clinical environment and patient scenarios which Registered Nurses
are likely to encounter when they assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate
care. Nurses are expected to utilize a contemporary evidence based and effectively
demonstrate the safe practical application of nursing skills.
OSCE costs $4,000 AUD. It will be used by AHPRA in running and maintaining OSCE.
Yes. There are institutions offering OSCE Preparation courses. Most of them offer 6
weeks course structure and training and the fee costs around $3,500 – $5,500 AUD.
The RN OSCE tests has ten clinical scenarios meant to evaluate persons based on the NMBA
Registered Nurse Standards for Practice. RN OSCE is the minimum entry practice level for RNs
in Australia.
It is a regulatory and not an educational OSCE. It integrates consistency for all candidates,
meaning: The candidate will not be coached, prompted or given extra explanations of responsibilities
or findings by the examiners.
Like Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) examination fee, OSCE fee is non-refundable regardless of reasons.
Once you passed the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN), your OBA IQNM Dashboard will advise
the candidate for OSCE exam eligibility.
No. It’s the candidate who will book travel for him/herself including accommodation.
Yes. Rescheduling exam is possible. The IQNM should make a request for a reschedule at
least three (3) days or 72 hours before the schedule date of examination.
The IQNM should consider the Australia’s territorial and national holidays when deciding for a
reschedule. During these times, offices are automatically closed. A confirmation notice will be
sent to the candidate once reschedule is approved.
The examination will take approximately 3-3.5 hours. It may be morning or afternoon.
OSCE has 10 individual stations. Each station has 10 minutes allocation for reading (2 minutes) and Interaction (8 minutes).
The examination result will be sent to the candidate within six (6) weeks thru registered email.
Candidates who failed the OSCE can apply to retake the examination as soon as they have
received their result notification. Firstly, by ensuring the fee for their next OSCE has been
paid via the IQNM dashboard. Once the IQNM exam team has been notified of the payment, booking
selection email will be sent and this will include next available examination schedule.
The RN must give a photographic ID on the registering date. The only ones acceptable one includes:
- Australian or overseas passport
- Australian drivers’ licence
- The photographic ID should have a similar name present in the IQNM portfolio submitted to AHPRA.
Each candidate will be tested on a series of practical skills, these may include but are not limited to:
- Physiological observations
- Vital signs
- Calculating drug dosages
- Subcutaneous/ Intramuscular injection
- Aseptic Non-Touch Technique (ANTT)
- In hospital resuscitation
- Safe disposal of sharps
- Medication administration
- Wound
- Hand hygiene
- Therapeutic patient communication/consent
- Infection control practices
- Patient identification
- Intravenous therapy administration/management
- Risk management in the clinical environment
- Communication
Verbal, non-verbal, and written skills will be examined including the interaction with the patient. The patient may be acting or a manikin. The examiner will also look at the candidate’s approach in handling the patient and evaluate critical skills such as:
- A clear explanation of care, diagnosis and any medications.
- Ability to involve the patient in making critical decisions
- Interacting with the patient’s relatives and other medical professionals.
- Ability to seek and acquire informed consent
- Listening actively to the patient
- Managing an anxious patient or anxious household members
- Giving clear instructions that the discharged patient should follow
- Being compassionate and empathetic while communicating with the patient
- Documenting information correctly
Patients will be simulated patients (actors) in most of the stations. In other instances manikins may be used.
The candidate is expected to show sympathy and interaction as one would a real patient.
Successful RNs that have passed the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) MCQ Examination, will be called
and updated from their dashboard to pay for the OSCE test. Once confirmation of payment is made
that AHPRA has received it, then IQNM teams will call the RN and book them for next present RN OSCE
session.
Examination cycles are the timelines for each of the RN OSCE tests. Each cycle will handle
two days of examinations including a maximum of four exams sessions (2 sessions per day) and
ill manage up to 40 RNs.
The OSCE registration fee for each sitting is $4000 AUD. The fee must be paid to AHPRA through
the guidelines provided on the IQNM dashboard before one can book the OSCE date of the test.
Upon IQNM exams team getting a notification of getting the pay, the RN must then select an
examination date of their choice. Candidates are informed before the end of five days of getting
payment.
The IQNM exams team will send RNs a Booking selection email. It encompasses information of the
next available 1 or 2 exam dates. However, places for each cycle are reduced and the positions
are bound to fill up quickly. Places are often given on a first come, first served approach.
One risks lacking a slot at the next RN OSCE if they were slow in replying to the Booking
selection email.
They refer to special arrangements for administering the test to offer persons with an impairment
complete access to the examination. Adjustments are only made based on the means for nursing
practice in Australia. They must not affect the integrity of the OSCE. The desired competence level
is the similar for all RNs and cannot be altered at all.
Candidates wishing to request reasonable adjustments should send the requests to the IQNM exam
team in writing within 14 days of making payments. The candidate should give the appropriate
documentation supporting the need for adjustment. This should also include outcomes of appropriate
diagnostic testing by an expert in the supposed area of disability.
For more information on reasonable adjustments,
please contact the IQNM exams team via email:
IQNMexams@ahpra.gov.au
An RN candidate is assured of doing exams only when the IQNM exams team gives the RN OSCE Candidate Confirmation communication.
The information includes fundamentals such as the location RN OSCE will be done, and the specific date and time. The expectations of
the RNs are also given in the information.
Candidates must understand the specifics requirements before getting to the exam center in Adelaide.
A copy of the RN OSCE terms for all individuals doing exams and RN OSCE Video and Audio consent form will
be attached for the individual’s reference.
The IQNM exams team will email RNs a reminder two weeks before the stipulated date for doing the test.
If one needs to alter one’s date of doing the test, then one must contact the IQNM exams team at
IQNMexams@ahpra.gov.au
or on 1300 419 495 at least 72 hours prior the commencement of the stipulated test.
Australian National and State holidays be put to consideration.
NOTE: A message left on an answering machine does not establish providing the mandated notice for
hanging or cancelling your exam appointment.
If one fails to get to their test appointment or does not give another schedule or cancel without providing the necessary notice, then one will forfeit their fee. The RN will have to submit another OSCE fee if the candidate wants to sit for the test later.
The Exam Invigilator will note and communicate to the IQNM exams team failure to do the test.
Refund of examination fee will not be provided if the individual: Fails to give an alternative date
or cancel the test more than 72 hours before the confirmed examination date. Fails to appear for an
exam appointment.
If the selected exam cycle is at its maximum capacity when the IQNM exams team receive your
response to the booking selection email, then they will be not be able to offer an individual a
place for this cycle. The IQNM exams team will have to contact the candidate with the details of
any alternative RN OSCE dates that are available at that time to book.
If future examination dates are yet to been confirmed with AHS, the IQNM exams team will contact the candidate immediately the new date becomes available.
Nurse Assist International will be providing you with the resources and materials for you to get you skilled and competent to appear for your OSCE examination.
The NMBA and AHPRA do not endorse any external OSCE preparation programs.
The exam is held at the Adelaide Health Simulation, which is found within the University of
Adelaide. AHS have two different regions where the tests can be administered. The email confirming
the RN’s derails will give insight on the area where the exam will be done. The process of the
examination will not be subjected to any changes even though the directions of buildings may vary.
The invigilator will guide the candidate when the individual arrives in the location to the
registration desk. The RN will be further needed to give their photographic ID and later sign
the candidate register. The candidate will also be mandated to sign the terms of agreement giving
their consent even for video recording.
The RN is obligated to sign a Terms of Agreement document to make sure the data within the OSCE
stations is private. This contract will be observed by an AHPRA Invigilator on the testing day.
Signing will thwart the person from sharing any data about the OSCE.
The candidate must sign a video and audio consent document. By using AHS facilities, the RN OSCE will include recording of video and audio useful for both education and research. Their uses include:
- Maintaining quality of the cases, examiners, and RNs,
- Examiners and simulation of patient education,
- Reporting during the clinical scenarios
At registration the RN will be given the RN’s ID card. This card initiates the exam process at
each phase, as one progresses through the examination. The information on the card has to be
similar to that in the exam communications and the registration document signed. Any issues with
the data provided in the card has to be brought up with the AHPRA Invigilator during registration.
When all RNs for the test are registered, or the close of registration time has elapsed; all RNs
will be taken to the candidate waiting area. A short presentation on how the test process happens
will be demonstrated.
The OSCE has ten stations, with each OSCE station running for ten minutes.
They are grouped into two minutes for reading & eight minutes for performing.
The OSCE will house different kinds of patients. Some are simulated and others are manikins
Testing stations that warrant showing application skills, you may find both a simulated patient
and a piece of equipment. In other stations, a simulated patient pretend to be the patient.
The candidate should treat the acting patient as they would a real patient.
An examiner will be found in all the stations. Their role is strict implying observing and
marking RN’s performance. Unless directly stated in the exam instructions, examiners are not
to offer prompts during the test. In some exam stations the instruction may need one to give their
results to the examiner, I which should be done immediately.
An observer may appear in a station. This individual will be an audit examiner, whose role is
establishing quality or benchmarking as an assessment strategy. The observer will not be explicitly
mark the RN’s performance. The observer will not interfere in the exam at all.
Examples of charts you may be required to be familiar with are as follows:
NAI has included all these forms in the Moodle and in student hand book for your reference.
- National Medication Charts
- Rapid deterioration and response
- Adult observation chart (MR59A)
- Adult Observation Charts
- Acute
- Long Stay
- GP e-version
- Paediatric Observation Chart
- Acute
- Long Stay
- Neurological observation chart
- Blood glucose record chart
- Adult falls risk assessment chart
- Pressure care risk Assessment
- Mental health risk assessment chart
- Intravenous order chart
In the waiting areas before the start of OSCE, all the candidate will be required to be collected from the candidate waiting room by one of the Invigilators and then escorted immediately to the examination room.
Therefore, the Invigilator escorting them, is required to put on a bright and colored tabard vest, to enable him or her to oversee your OSCE. The invigilator should ensure that all candidates get from one station to another. He or she should always be available to offer any assistance needed during the OSCE.
After the invigilator has picked all the candidates from the candidate waiting area, he or she is required to call your name in alphabetical order by starting with the surname. Through this order, one is expected or he or she is able to stay in, so as to process through the exam circuit. After that, the candidates will then be issued with clipboard together with a note paper attached
In the process of individuals being led onto the circuit, the invigilator will then start to call out the letters one by one, of each and every letters of each station as they pass. So, you are advised to remain at the station, as it is listed on the clipboard, because it will remain to be your starting station.
An announcement will be made to alert on the start of the exam. The candidates will hear a bell ring, and this will be the first a signal for them to start scanning the id on the black box which is next to the screen which will signal one to scan their ID card on the black box next to the screen. It’s here that one’s reading material will then be displayed or shown for the station.
After 2 minutes have elapse, then the reading time is finished and you will hear a second bell ring, which will notify you that you are about to enter the room and then procced with the station. There will be A short announcement which one has a minute of interaction time left for each station.
After the eight minutes interaction time have elapsed, there shall be a bell to be notify the candidates that time for the station has ended and it is now time to move to the next station. kindly make sure you do the same and ensure that all the notes written down during the station are left inside the room.
Upon exit, all the candidate is directed to progress directly to the next station, where an announcement will be made when one is supposed to scan onto the next screen for the next instructions to be set.
If an individual is not able to finish the station within the allocated time given, he will not be able to be given an extra time He or she will have to stop what she or he is doing and move immediately to the next station.
In case the candidate is able to finish the station before the time allocated for completion, they will then be required to remain in the station room , and wait for the final announcement to be made for them to move. One will not be allowed to walk with anyone who might be in the room during this hour or time
After progressing through the ten stations and the exams are finished, you will now be asked to do the following:
- All the clipboards and Id cards should be left on the chair of the station you excited
- You should follow the invigilator as they lead you back to the candidate waiting room
- You should listen to the post examination candidate debrief for five minutes
- You should be in a position to be escorted from the exam center
- You should Follow your Invigilator as they escort you from the building.
While at the stimulation Centre and during the OSCE all the candidates are advised to behave professionally. They are asked to adhere to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) professional standards, which defines the behaviors of nurses,
These standards include the Registered nurse standards for practice and Professional standards – Code of conduct for nurses and Code of ethics for nurses.
Most Candidates seems to be more familiar with these documents before attending the OSCE. To observe to this conduct and behavior in line with professional standards, it is likely to ensure both candidate and the patient’s safety during the OSCE.
Deviation in practice from the professional standards during the OSCE may force the examiner and/or chief examiner to discontinue what one is doing prior to completion of the OSCE. Any Conduct which is likely to result to the discontinuation of the OSCE includes but not limited to the following:
- Simulated patient feeling unsafe due to certain bad behaviour/actions, or
- The examiner deeming your behaviour to be not safe or non-professional.
If anyone is not feeling okay or in case she needs to go to the bathroom during the OSCE or is not able to continue the OSCE, he is always advised to remain at the door of station and make sure that his hand remain raised and he will be helped by an exam invigilator.
Also in case an individual is in a station room and is not able to attempt the station, he should immediately notify the examiner and he will be asked to remain calm until changeover time. He will wait until the announcement for the end of the station occurs, then he will exit the station, raise his hand and the exam invigilator will assist him.
An evidence-based assessment criterion is used by the trained and qualified examiner in each OSCE station. This criteria, must always be mapped to the Registered nurse standards for practice and should be referenced against those listed in the recommended readings section.
The examiner is required to mark each candidate’s performance during and at the conclusion of the station.
To report this incident , a Special consideration will be issued, whereby a candidate was not in a position to attend or complete their scheduled OSCE because of exceptional circumstances which are beyond their control. The candidates who will be given special consideration are those who will be to demonstrate that they have the reasons beyond their control. These circumstances include the following:
- Acute illness or injury (for example a serious illness.
- Loss or bereavement. for example, in case of a loss of a close member or your family.
- Hardship or trauma
- Unforeseen call-up for service for example military service or court appearance
- Work commitments and circumstances beyond their control (a letter on company/organization letterhead from an employer confirming this must be provided)
- Religious convictions (should include a letter from a pastor or any religious leader which must accompany the application
- Natural disaster, bomb threat or similar such event necessitating the evacuation of the exam centre
- All the Candidates will be asked to submit a special request for them to be considered in writing either before or within seven (7) calendar days following the scheduled OSCE. Also, a Relevant documentary evidence of the exceptional circumstances beyond their control, in this case, it must be included in the request made.
They will be released within the six weeks of the examination date taking place. They will also be able to receive an email communication which shall include a formal notification showing the result.
Please take note of the following: This communication will be sent to the email address given to AHPRA at the point of registering for the OSCE.
For the results, you might not receive them immediately as expected , since they must be calculated and ratified by the RN OSCE Examination Committee before they are released to all the candidates.
Kindly note that those Candidates who pass the RN OSCE exam will be given the opportunity to progress with their IQNM journey and may make an application to Aphra for registration with the NMBA. The candidate’s IQNM dashboard will update the individual to identify the next steps in relation to this process.
In case you fail the RN-OSCE. You will be given a chance to retake the OSCE. But in any case, an individual will choose to retake the OSCE then, you will be asked to follow the steps as identified in the result communication. This will include paying and registering for another exam attempt.
- A candidate is advised to familiarize himself or herself with the location of the OSCE
- He/she should familiarize themselves with the expectations for the day;
- He should make sure that he gets enough sleep the night before the OSCE;
- He should ensure that he reviews each section of this information module to grasp or have a better understanding of the requirements for the day, especially on what to bring and what to put on
- He or he should review the information provided about the format of the OSCE and how to conduct himself during the OSCE
- Should review the Registered nurse standards for practice
- Should review the Professional standards – Code of conduct for nurses and Code of ethics for nurses
- Should review the reference list and recommended readings
- Should review the list of examples of potential skills to be examined and utilise appropriate references to review skills as deemed necessary
- Ensure that you follow the appropriate dress requirements
- Ensure that you come with an identification document with you;
- Ensure that you keep time
- Ensure that you allow enough time for travelling so thar in case there might be any unanticipated delays in traffic
- Ensure that you take your meals prior to arriving for your session
- Make sure you have notified the Ahpra Invigilator of any special considerations you may require during the OSCE (e.g. access to medications or food whilst in the OSCE area);
- Keep in mind that you will be assessed against that expected of an entry level registered nurse;
- Make sure you utilize two minute reading time to go through the station instructions in the examination process be prepared to use of manikins, simulated patients and part-task trainers and ensure you treat them as you would real patients;
- Make sure that you are very keen to listen to the instructions provided.