A leg wound that has changed at home
RN OSCE practice station

The task

You are the RN in a community nursing service. Paulo Ferreira, aged 70, speaks basic English and prefers Portuguese for detailed discussion. He has a chronic lower-leg wound and a prescribed dressing plan. He says the wound looks different today. Assess the wound, demonstrate aseptic care and decide whether the plan needs review. Complete the supplied practice record. You and the patient are in the room; assistance can be called. You have eight minutes; describe and select physical actions in this online exercise.

What this station tests

• Paulo’s new redness, pain and drainage require review of his usual venous-ulcer plan.
• A qualified Portuguese interpreter supports consent without relying on his daughter.
• Foot perfusion and calf findings belong in the changed-leg-wound assessment.
• Painful withdrawal of consent means pause, support the leg and seek permission again.

Sources for the clinical content

• NHMRC: Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare
• ACSQHC: Comprehensive Care Standard
• TIS National: qualified interpreting services
• ACSQHC: Communicating for Safety Standard

An original practice scenario with invented patients. Not an exam question.

Practise next

• Aseptic dressing of an uncomplicated incision
• Contamination during a clinic dressing
• Pressure wound care with consent concerns
• Responding to a needlestick during clinic care
• Protecting the connection during an IV line change