Test of Competence 2021 for nursing associates
NMC launched the Test of Competence 2021 for nursing associates on 31 January 2022.
The test is specific to nursing associates and measures candidates against NMC’s Standards of proficiency for nursing associates (2018).
It consists of two parts:
- A multiple-choice computer based test known as the CBT.
- A practical test known as the OSCE.
You can sit your CBT or OSCE in any order, but you must successfully complete both parts to continue with your application for initial registration or readmission.
The MIGRONIX CBT classes programs are structured products that focus on the success of CBT aspirants. If you’re looking to practice, study, and succeed, these courses with Migronix are perfect for you. The program is specially created to ensure that students get maximum practice for the CBT test.
OSCE
MIGRONIX Nurse Educators having an immense experience in OSCE Training and assessment will provide onsite face to face training. Why not give us a call to discuss your OSCE training need and by preparing with us you will give yourself a high chance of passing the OSCE test the part 2 test of competence in your first attempt.
Becoming familiar with nursing associate practice in the UK
To practice as a registered nursing associate, it is crucial to adhere to ethical and professional standards outlined in the NMC (2018) ‘The Code.’ This includes working collaboratively with patients, obtaining consent, and respecting their dignity and privacy. Discrimination against patients is unacceptable, and nursing associates are expected to uphold high professional standards. Collaboration with other healthcare professionals is essential, and nursing associates should contribute expertise to various areas of care. Familiarity with ‘the 6 Cs’—care, compassion, competence, communication, courage, and commitment—is necessary for success in the Part 2 test of competence (OSCE).
We equip you with the essential values upheld by the NHS at MIGRONIX, ensuring that you are armed with the core principles integral to the healthcare profession. To equip you with these values MIGRONIX is running ‘NHS VALUES COURSE’. We advise you to enrol in this course with MIGRONIX to secure your success while also saving both your money and valuable time.
Introduction: Part two of the Test of Competence is a practical exam known as the OSCE. In this part you’ll be tested on your clinical and communication skills.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) introduced a new test of competence for internationally registered nursing associates for use from January 2022. The test of competence measures candidates against the current UK standards of proficiency for nursing associates
There is a test of competence specific to nursing associates which you will be required to undertake.
OSCE Test Providers:
There are five approved OSCE test providers delivering the Test of Competence 2021 for nursing associates:
- Oxford Brookes University
- University of Northampton
- Ulster University
- Northumbria University
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Applying for OSCE Part 2
Part 2 of the nursing associate qualification involves an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), which can be taken in any order with Part 1, a computer-based test (CBT). Most candidates take the CBT in their home country before traveling to the UK for the OSCE. Authorization for Part 2 comes from the NMC, and upon meeting registration requirements, candidates receive a Test of Competence invitation email, allowing them to book the OSCE. Those with disabilities requiring adjustments should inform the test center, as they may be eligible for extra time, provided evidence of learning support needs is submitted at the time of booking. The university’s academic lead/manager and the wellbeing and occupational health team will review reports and offer individualized advice.
Overview of the OSCE
Part 1 of the NMC test assesses your ability to apply knowledge, while Part 2 focuses on testing clinical and communication skills, emphasizing holistic patient-centered care and key clinical skills of nursing associates. The OSCE content adheres to blueprints and specifications on the NMC webpage, outlining the examination’s scope, including topics, skills, and procedures relevant for newly registered nursing associates. For instance, scenarios may involve vulnerable adults or children with non-accidental injuries, requiring candidates to understand actions such as removing the affected person, raising concerns, alerting safeguarding teams, and appropriately sharing information within care teams. Detailed knowledge of specific NHS trust procedures or policies is not expected, but the OSCE covers typical nursing associate scenarios and relevant clinical skills in the UK.
OSCE Structure
What will I be tested on?
The OSCE consists of 10 stations, requiring approximately 3 hours for completion. Three stations focus on scenario-based assessments related to the nursing associate care process stages:
- Assessment
- Implementation
- Evaluation
Five stations among the remaining seven are specifically designed to assess practical clinical skills. Each skills station will have a duration of up to 12 minutes, and a short break is permitted between stations. It is important to thoroughly review the station instructions and scenarios.
Typical or Common skills that could be assessed, either individually or within a nursing associate scenario, encompass:
- Pain Assessment and Hospital Admission (Linked Skill)
- Administration of Inhaled Medication
- Blood Glucose Monitoring
- Catheter Specimen of Urine
- Fluid Balance
- Informed Consent
- Oxygen Therapy
- Peak Flow
- Physiological Measurement
- Pressure Area Assessment
- Subcutaneous Injection
Within each OSCE, there will be one station dedicated to evaluating professional issues, focusing on professional accountability and communication skills. Another station will specifically assess critical appraisal of research and evidence, along with the associated decision-making process. Both of these stations are in a written format.
Communication Skills
Communication plays a crucial role in nursing associate practice and will undergo ongoing assessment in the OSCE. The evaluation covers a comprehensive set of communication skills, including verbal, non-verbal, and written aspects. This assessment is conducted through observing the candidate’s interaction with a simulated patient (actor or manikin) and reviewing nursing associate documentation in each station.
Throughout the examination, the assessor will evaluate your patient approach and communication skills. This includes:
- clearly explaining care, diagnosis, investigations and/or treatments
- involving the patient in decision-making
- communicating with relatives and healthcare professionals seeking and obtaining informed consent active listening
- dealing appropriately with an anxious person or anxious relatives<
- providing clear instructions on discharge
- providing advice on lifestyle, health promotion or risk factors
- demonstrating compassion and care during communication
- clear documentation that meets the requirements of NMC (2018) ‘The Code
- Professional behaviour
- Professional attitude
You should speak to the patient as you would any person during your first meeting. If a manikin is used for assessment, ensure that you verbalize your actions and provide reasons in a manner consistent with real patient interactions. If you pose a question to the manikin, the assessor will respond accordingly.
A. Approaching the patient/manikin
- Introduce yourself and explain or clarify the purpose of the nursing associate encounter.
- Check what the patient wants you to call them.
- Be polite, respectful and non-judgemental, and maintain the patient’s dignity.
- Be empathic, acknowledge the patient’s emotions or concerns, and show sensitivity to any discomfort.
- Ensure that you gain consent from the patient (or carer/guardian for children or certain people with disabilities) prior to undertaking any procedures
- Be sensitive to personal space, stand or sit at an appropriate distance from the actor/manikin, and be aware of their body language. You are too close if the actor moves back or recoils.
- Treat a manikin as you would a real patient.
- Establish what the patient already knows and/or wants to know.
- Establish what the patient already knows and/or wants to know.
- Explain clearly what you are going to do and why, so that the patient can understand.
- Remember always to check whether the patient understands or has any questions.
- Offer appropriate reassurance.
- Do not alarm the patient but you must be able to explain the need for urgent action if it is required.
- Do not routinely oversimplify names for parts of the body. It is reasonable to expect that most people will know common body names such as ‘bladder", ‘ovary’, ‘womb’ and ‘vein’. If you doubt a patient’s understanding, check and alter your communication to meet their individual needs.
- Treat the manikin as you would a real person.
- Respect the patient’s autonomy, and help them to make a decision based on the available evidence-based information.
- Explain information and its implications so that the patient can make an informed choice about their care.
- Check the patient’s understanding and feelings about the proposed nursing associate interventions.
- Treat the manikin as you would a real person.
- You should be able to undertake an accurate nursing assessment and develop a plan of care.
- Identify the patient’s nursing care needs accurately.
- Listen attentively to the patient’s problems and concerns.
- Use clear language, and question at a comfortable pace.
- Clarify and check information and summarise understanding
- Adult nursing
- Additional recommended reading for overseas applications
- Standards
- Guidance
- The Code
- Hearings and Outcomes: these pages list direct and current insight into unacceptable standards of nursing or midwifery in the UK.
- Our trainings follow the NMC 10 station OSCE assessment approach
- You get to observe and learn the correct method of OSCE through our detailed demonstration. We demonstrate every station.
- You get to practice the OSCE stations in detail with appropriate equipments
- We have a flexible approach towards training and have learner centred approach
- We provide the direct feedback and identify areas for nurses to improve
- Many nurses struggle to perform under pressure or during the exam situation. We identify their challenges and give appropriate coaching and excellent tips to overcome these challenges.
- Many nurses struggle to complete tasks in 15 minutes, may be because of communication issues, not knowing how and where to focus, what and how to speak however we identify and fix these areas to speed their tasks and show them how to complete things under 15 minutes.
- We spend time in care plan writing and transfer of care letter writing, review nurses care plans and provide feedback.
- Our support just doesn’t end with training we provide the excellent aftercare strongly advise each nurse to call us few days before their test to have a final recap.
- Our trainings follow the NMC 10 stations OSCE assessment approach
- You get to observe and learn the correct method of OSCE through our detailed demonstration. We demonstrate every station.
- You get to practice the OSCE stations in detail with appropriate equipments
- We have a flexible approach towards training and have learner centred approach
- We provide the direct feedback and identify areas for nurses to improve
- Many nurses struggle to perform under pressure or during the exam situation. We identify their challenges and give appropriate coaching and excellent tips to overcome these challenges.
- Many nurses struggle to complete tasks in 15 minutes, may be because of communication issues, not knowing how and where to focus, what and how to speak however we identify and fix these areas to speed their tasks and show them how to complete things under 15 minutes.
- We spend time in care plan writing and transfer of care letter writing, review nurses care plans and provide feedback.
- Our support just doesn’t end with training we provide the excellent aftercare strongly advise each nurse to call us few days before their test to have a final recap.
- OSCE NMC pass rate is less than 50% therefore you can assume the intensity of the assessment and preparation required for you to pass your OSCE
- International nurses should know the UK system of health care & nursing practice
- There is no room for minor errors
- Know the equipments well as many nurses struggle when 15 minute clock gets started.
- It is easy to pass your OSCE at first attempt as on your second attempt your anxiety levels automatically will be higher. The appropriate training is must to prepare well for your OSCE.
B. Explaining and advising
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C. Involving the patient in management
They may not always agree with your proposed plan of care.
D. Nursing assessment
Each of the OSCE ten stations has standardised marking criteria against which all candidates are assessed. Candidates are assessed by a panel of highly qualified examiners. Candidates are expected to demonstrate competence through safe and effective evidence based practice. The test of competence is based on current UK pre-registration standards.
OSCE test assessment is very strict and there is no room for any errors. All nurses prior to taking OSCE are advised to obtain a thorough training where you can practice properly with all the equipments and get a specific feedback to improve performance.
NMC recommends list of reading prior to the test they are listed below:
Generic nursing domains
Domain 1: Professional values
Domain 2: Communication and interpersonal skills
Domain 3: Nursing practice and decision-making
Domain 4: Leadership, management and team working
Field specific competencies
|
Result |
Description |
Outcome |
Cost |
|
Pass |
Passed all stations taken |
Congratulations! The NMC will be in touch to issue you NMC PIN |
N/A |
|
Fail |
Failed up to seven stations across both the APIE and/or skill stations |
Will require a re-sit at 50% cost. You will need to re-sit only the stations you failed. If you need to re-sit the APIE station(s), You will be given your original paperwork from the APIE stations you passed in your previous attempt, to complete the re-sit stations in sequence. |
£397 |
|
Fail |
Failed eight or more stations across both the AIE and skill stations |
Will require re-sit at 100% cost. You will need to re-sit the APIE station(s) you failed and the skill station(s) you failed. You will be given the same scenario and your original paperwork from the APIE stations you passed in your previous attempt, to complete the re-sit stations in sequence. |
£794 |
|
Full fail |
Fail any station on the third attempt |
Will require 6 months to elapse before you can reapply to the NMC. |
N/A |
Fees
The fee for the OSCE is £794. The reduced resit fee is £397 if you need to resit 7 or fewer stations.
Mental Health Nursing OSCE
Our Mental Health Nursing OSCE Training is known for the best pass rates and excellent quality, covers all the essential Mental Health Nursing OSCE skills and Mental Health Nursing OSCE Scenarios. We have the 100% pass rate on our Mental Health Nursing OSCE Training. 100% satisfaction guaranteed with our robust training, support & constructive feedback.
Mental Health OSCE Training Covers the following Skills:
Physiological Observation(NEWS Chart)
Nutritional Assessment)
Administration of suppository
De-escalation
Reminiscence
Talking Therapies
Two Mandatory Writing Stations: You will get 10 minutes per mandatory writing skill
Professional Values – This is a writing station where you will be given a scenario where you have to read and write the summary of findings and actions you would take in a short sentences.
Evidence Based Practice- This is a writing station where you will be given a scenario where you have to write the summary of findings and advise that you would give to the patient
APIE:
Assessment: Assessing patient with Mental Health Needs or Issues. Learning SOLAR, PHQ9 & MOCA Tools of Mental Health OSCE Assessment
Planning: Learning & practicing how to write an effective care plan by identifying mental health nursing needs
Implementation: Learning & practicing administering of medications to the patient
Evaluation: Learning & practicing how to give the verbal handover using SBAR tool
Paediatric (Children’s)Nursing OSCE
We provide a robust fully equipped Paediatric OSCE Training for nurses. All our nurses who attended the training had 100% pass success rate. Since the numbers and the demand is less into Paediatric OSCE we run one to one or small group Paediatric OSCE Trainings as and when required. We have accommodated all the nurses who contacted us and requested for this training. 100% satisfaction guaranteed with excellent customer feedback. Feedback matters hence we focus highly on providing a constructive feedback to nurses on the areas they have to improve.
Our Paediatric OSCE Training Covers the following:
Paediatric Nursing OSCE Skills:
Paediatric Basic Life support (Infant & Child)
Administration of inhaled medication (AIM)
Removal of Urinary Catheter
Subcutaneous Injection
Blood glucose monitoring
Fine bore NG tube insertion
Nasopharyngeal suctioning
Oxygen therapy
Peak flow
Two Mandatory Writing Stations: You will get 10 minutes per mandatory writing skill
Professional Values – This is a writing station where you will be given a scenario where you have to read and write the summary of findings and actions you would take in a short sentences.
Evidence Based Practice- This is a writing station where you will be given a scenario where you have to write the summary of findings and advise that you would give to the patient
Paediatric Nursing OSCE APIE:
Assessment: Learning how to assess a child with presenting complaints and completing a appropriate documentation
Planning: Learning & practicing how to write a care plan with various paediatric nursing needs
Implementation: Learning & practicing how to administer medications to a child using the appropriate medication(drug) chart)
Evaluation: Learning and practicing how to give verbal handover using SBAR as per the OSCE marking criteria.
WHY MIGRONIX?
OSCE Face to Face Training
MIGRONIX Training offers face-to-face OSCE training to assist nurses in thoroughly preparing for the practical test. The OSCE involves demonstrating skills and handling APIE scenarios within a specified time frame. It is strongly recommended that nurses undergo appropriate training and coaching to increase their chances of passing the OSCE on the first attempt. MIGRONIX Training’s onsite face-to-face sessions are designed to comprehensively prepare individuals for the OSCE, alleviating anxiety and stress associated with the test. Investing in quality training is emphasized to avoid the challenges of retaking the test, which can lead to additional expenses and time. MIGRONIX Training boasts extensive experience in effectively preparing nurses for the OSCE test.
MIGRONIX Training
We focus on the following areas for your OSCE
Effective preparation for the OSCE test requires an environment with expert guidance, making it impractical to do it at home. Expert assistance, specifically from someone with OSCE training and assessment experience, is crucial for observing and providing valuable feedback on practice. Our commitment to quality lies in our honesty and direct communication with nurses, offering transparent feedback. We assess readiness for the test accurately and recommend additional training only when absolutely essential.
Areas of OSCE training covered at MIGRONIX:
Effective preparation for the OSCE test necessitates expert guidance and cannot be accomplished at home or in an unsupportive environment. It is essential to have someone with OSCE training and assessment experience who can observe your practice and offer valuable feedback. Our commitment to quality is evident in our honest and direct feedback to nurses. We accurately assess readiness for the test and recommend additional training only when absolutely essential.
Importance of OSCE training at Migronix:
MIGRONIX offers Training to increase your chance of passing your OSCE on the first try.