Phone call about a worsening post-operative client
IENCAP OSCE practice station
Handover and escalation · 2 min to read · 13 min to perform
Try a real conversation · IENCAP OSCEAI practice
Andre Boucher, aged 66, had a bowel resection yesterday.
Andre BoucherI do not feel right. My belly is tight and I am so cold.
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Open the full station (charts, voice, result letter) →The task
You are the nurse on a surgical unit in Ontario at night. Andre Boucher, aged 66, had a bowel resection yesterday. Another nurse, Keisha, has asked you to see him because he looks unwell, and she is with you. Introduce yourself, confirm his identity and assess him quickly. Then telephone the on-call surgical resident. Give a structured handover, say what you want done and by when, and confirm the plan. Record your SBAR on the form provided.
What this station tests
- Recognize deterioration early: low blood pressure, fast pulse, fever and low urine output after surgery is urgent.
- Gather the chart, observations and allergy before phoning.
- Open SBAR with who you are, the patient and the problem, then give numbers and your concern.
- End with a clear recommendation and timeframe, and read back every order.
- Oxygen is a drug with a target range, not a number to push as high as possible. Reassess after every fluid bolus.
- Stay with the client, reassess often, and document the call and outcome.
Sources for the clinical content
- Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines 2021
- BMJ clinical practice guideline: Oxygen therapy for acutely ill medical patients
- College of Nurses of Ontario: Scope of Practice standard
An original practice scenario with invented patients. Not an exam question.