Supporting students at OSCE: allaying anxieties

Cath Hill, Lecturer (Clinical Skills) Keele University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, c.a.hill@nur.keele.ac.uk, 01782 556606 Kim Sargeant, Lecturer, Common Foundation Lead, Keele University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, k.e.sargeant@nur.keele.ac.uk, 01782 556685

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) recommends OSCE’s as a means of assessing students’ knowledge and skills (2004, 2007) “It is well known that OSCEs are a source of anxiety for many students” Bloomfield et al (2010).

References: Bloomfield J, Pegram A, Jones C (2010) How to pass your OSCE: A guide to success in nursing and midwifery. Pearson Education Limited, Essex.. Nursing and Midwifery Council (2004) Standards of Proficiency for Pre-registration Nursing Education. NMC, London. Nursing and Midwifery Council (2007) Essential Skills Clusters for Pre-registration Nursing Programmes. NMC, London.

Information overload

Rumour, hearsay and speculation

Examiner/student dynamics

Peer pressure

Summative assessment

Opportunities and variability in clinical practice

Simulated scenario

Practical performance

scrutiny

Flexible approaches to

learning

Verbal questions and limited directed

prompts to mimic mentoring in practice

Access to lecturing team and equipment

Unlimited access to

information

Real-time practice

Smooth organisation

Familiar assessment environment and tools

Post assessment chill out room

Written questions

Seen assessment

Keele University

School of Nursing and Midwifery

love:keele

Causes of anxiety:

Stress relievers: