Bedside handover at the end of a morning shift
NZ nursing OSCE practice station
Handover and escalation · 2 min to read · 8 min to perform
Terence Lowe, aged 69, is on day 2 after a bowel operation.
Terence LoweIs this the handover? I'd like to hear it too.
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 surgical ward at the end of the morning shift. Terence Lowe, aged 69, is on day 2 after a bowel operation. Kavita, the oncoming nurse, has arrived and you are doing the handover at his bedside with him present. Use his charts and the latest observations provided. Hand over using ISBAR, include Mr Lowe in the conversation, and make sure Kavita knows what must be done next. Record the handover on the form provided. You do not need to examine him.
What this station tests
- Start with identification, then situation, background, assessment and recommendation.
- Include the patient at the bedside, with their agreement, and invite their comments.
- Give the latest observations and say what has changed.
- State clearly what is pending and when, and what would need escalation.
- Ask the receiving nurse to read back the key points.
Sources for the clinical content
- Nursing Council of New Zealand: handbook for the clinical competence assessment (ISBAR and station types)
- Health Quality & Safety Commission: New Zealand early warning score and vital signs chart user guide
- Health and Disability Commissioner: Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights
An original practice scenario with invented patients. Not an exam question.