The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is the practical examination for internationally qualified registered nurses seeking registration in Australia as a registered nurse. The RN OSCE exam consists of 10 stations (or clinical scenarios) that have been developed to test candidates against the NMBA Registered Nurse Standards for Practice. The OSCE is set as the entry to practice level that is expected of a Registered Nurse in Australia.

Unlike MCQ or NCLEX that is a computer adaptive test, OSCE is a behavioral assessment and is set to the standard of an entry-level nurse in Australia. This test will assess each candidate’s level of competence, knowledge, and skills in a clinical setting. Moreover, it will assess a candidate’s ability to manage and meet the client’s unique needs in a holistic manner with limited time and support.

OSCE RN consists of 10 stations with 10 minutes allocated for each station; two (2) minutes for reading of the scenario and eight (8) minutes for the demonstration of the task given. This exam costs $4000 and is delivered at the University of Adelaide in Adelaide, Australia.

Australian OSCE Exam for Nurses

This is a regulatory OSCE rather than an educational OSCE, and is conducted in a way that is consistent for all candidates You will not receive any coaching, prompting, further explanation of the task required or feedback from the examiners during or after the OSCE. The OSCE is run strictly to time: i.e. it allows only two (2) minutes of reading time, and eight (8) minutes of performance time for each station When the allocated time for the station is up, the candidate must move to the next station even if they have not completed everything required for that station.

Apart from assessing the clinical skills, OSCE will also take into consideration the candidate’s ability to manage the care of a patient in a holistic manner. It is therefore important that the care you provide within each station is individualized for that patient, and is tailored to each patient’s special needs

The RN OSCE examiner will assess your ability to formulate an accurate plan of care for the patient, based on your assessment findings or any information relevant to the patient. Patient safety, and the care they receive, is paramount at all stages within the OSCE stations.

Our trainers are experts in OSCE training field, having conducted UK NMC OSCE and Irish aptitude tests for years, and are well-versed with the current trends and updates by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

The OSCE RN can be completed within 3 to 3.5 hours and results are published within 8 weeks from the exam day. Once cleared with OSCE, an OBA candidate can proceed to apply for Australian Nursing Registration with AHPRA and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).

Communication Skills

Effective communication with clients is also crucial to ensure the right diagnosis and treatment plans for them. During the test, an assessor will observe the interaction between the simulated client and OSCE candidate and assess the candidate’s verbal, non-verbal, and written communication techniques. This will include your ability to provide explanations to the patient about their care in an appropriate manner, as well as your ability to include the patient or family in their care where appropriate.

The RN OSCE Examiner may also look at your approach to the patient throughout the examination, and will assess your 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. The candidate should speak to the patient as you would any person you are meeting for the first time.

At the RN OSCE, the patients involved in each case will be acting as patients (simulated patients) in many of the stations. In some stations you may be required to interact with a manikin. Where a manikin is used as the patient, it is essential that you demonstrate a level of empathy and interaction; to the same level as you would with a real patient.