A young man brought in by a worried flatmate
NZ nursing OSCE practice station

The task

You are the nurse in the emergency department. Callum Baxter, aged 24, has been brought in by his flatmate, who is worried about him. He has been seen at triage and his physical observations are stable. A health care assistant is available and the mental health crisis team can be reached by phone. Introduce yourself, confirm his identity and carry out a respectful mental health assessment, including a risk screen. Decide what safety steps are needed now and who you must involve. Complete the risk section of the form provided and explain to Callum what will happen next. Speak aloud as you would to the patient.

What this station tests

• Ask directly about suicidal thoughts, plan, intent and access to means. Asking does not plant the idea.
• Never leave a person with current suicidal thoughts alone while waiting for assessment.
• Explain confidentiality and its limits honestly before asking sensitive questions.
• Involve the person in decisions, including who is told, and offer whānau or support people.
• Give a clear safety net such as 1737 and crisis team contacts, and use 111 if there is immediate danger.

Sources for the clinical content

• 1737 Need to talk? free call or text support
• Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand: suicide prevention
• Health and Disability Commissioner: Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights

An original practice scenario with invented patients. Not an exam question.