A social media photo of the ward
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 surgical ward. A colleague, Aisha, has posted a photo on her social media account of the busy ward with the caption 'Another crazy night shift'. In the background you can see a patient in bed and a whiteboard showing patient names. Aisha says it is just for fun and her account is private to friends. In the response sheet, write what you would do, explain why, and say what you would do afterwards.
What this station tests
- A private account is not private: posts can be shared and screenshotted.
- Patients can be identified by more than a name: a bed, a ward or a whiteboard may be enough.
- Speak to the colleague first and ask for the post to be removed now, then report it.
- A breach of confidentiality goes through the incident and information governance process.
- The patient should be told what happened, by the right person; do not wait to be asked.
Sources for the clinical content
An original practice scenario with invented patients. Not an exam question.