Care after death and support for a widow
RCSI OSCE practice station
Clinical skills · 1 min to read · 10 min to perform
Try a real conversation · RCSI OSCEAI practice
Complete the record provided.
Mrs Nuala FitzgeraldHe's gone, nurse. Can I stay with him for a little while?
Free · no sign-up · uses your one free station
Open the full station (charts, voice, result letter) →The task
You are the nurse on a medical ward. Mr Jim Fitzgerald, aged 74, died twenty minutes ago of heart failure. His wife, Mrs Nuala Fitzgerald, is at his bedside. A healthcare assistant is available. Speak with Mrs Fitzgerald first, then describe and carry out the after-death care you would provide, saying aloud each step and why, including who you must inform. Ask about her wishes and any religious or cultural needs. Complete the record provided.
What this station tests
- Speak to the family first and offer time and privacy.
- Confirm that death has been verified and identify the patient before care.
- Ask about religious, cultural and personal wishes.
- Record implanted devices and belongings, and follow local policy.
- Respond kindly to guilt and offer information about bereavement support.
Sources for the clinical content
- Irish Hospice Foundation: toolkit for compassionate end-of-life care
- Irish Hospice Foundation: when someone you care about is dying in hospital
- NMBI: Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics
- RCSI: overseas aptitude test preparation (public topic list)
An original practice scenario with invented patients. Not an exam question.