A medicine given late and not reported
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 medical ward. On checking the drug chart at the end of your morning shift you realise you gave Mr Okoye his intravenous antibiotic three hours late because you were interrupted. You did not mention it at handover. A colleague says nobody will notice and the next dose is not until tonight. In the response sheet, write what you would do, explain why, and say what you would do afterwards.
What this station tests
- Telling the team promptly is part of treating the patient; a late dose may need a clinical decision.
- Never stay silent about a mistake because it seems minor or unnoticed.
- Record the true time of administration; never alter a chart.
- The duty of candour means telling the patient honestly, saying sorry and explaining what happens next.
- Look for the cause, such as interruptions, as well as the individual action.
Sources for the clinical content
An original practice scenario with invented patients. Not an exam question.