A colleague who is not completing observations
NMC OSCE practice station
Professional values · 1 min to read · 10 min to perform
A written station. Free to try, no sign-up.
The task
You are a registered nurse on a busy medical ward. During the evening shift you notice that a colleague, Sam, has not carried out the 2-hourly observations on two patients. One of them, Mr Evans, was recently found to have a raised early warning score. Sam looks tired and tells you the ward is too busy. Sam asks you not to say anything. In the response sheet, write what you would do, explain why, and say what you would do afterwards.
What this station tests
- Check the at-risk patient first, then deal with the colleague.
- Never keep a promise of silence that puts patients at risk.
- Raise the concern in a structured, factual way and use local escalation routes if it continues.
- Record only what you have measured and never alter another person's entries.
- Support the colleague as well as the patients; fatigue and staffing are part of the picture.
Sources for the clinical content
- NMC: The Code
- NMC: Raising concerns guidance for nurses, midwives and nursing associates
- Royal College of Physicians: National Early Warning Score (NEWS2)
An original practice scenario with invented patients. Not an exam question.