OSCE stations
Part 2 of the RCSI test: 14 simulated ward stations, 10 minutes each, marked competent or not at every competency. RCSI publishes the current example scenarios for several stations. They are listed here with the practice topic behind each one.
From RCSI’s own preparation page: the groupings help revision, but any reference may form part of any station, and the list “may be added to”. Check rcsi.com before your date.
Stations with published examples
Fundamentals of nursing care
- Falls
- Intake, including MUST
- Skincare, including pressure areas
- Urinary elimination and related procedures
- Wound dressing (ANTT)
Theory behind it: Fundamentals, Falls, Nutrition, Skin, Renal
Nursing process in the acute situation
- Diabetes type 1
- Neurovascular assessment
- Delirium
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Acute urinary tract infection
- Stoma
- Post-operative bleed
Theory behind it: Acute situation, Diabetes, Neuro, Delirium, Cardiac, Peri-operative
Chronic disease management
- Angina
- Atrial fibrillation
- Heart failure
- Stroke
- Diabetes type 2
- Asthma
- COPD
Theory behind it: Chronic disease, Cardiac, Respiratory, Diabetes
Safeguarding and related matters
- Safeguarding plus a complaint from a next-of-kin
- Safeguarding plus open disclosure
Theory behind it: Safeguarding, Code and policy
Teaching the junior student nurse
- H. pylori ulcer and gastroscopy
- Osteoporosis, osteopenia and DEXA scan
- Constipation and colonoscopy
- Lung cancer and bronchoscopy
- Hypertension and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
- Obesity, BMI and waist circumference
- Pre- and post-operative care and pre-operative assessment
Theory behind it: Teaching, GI, Osteoporosis, Respiratory, Cardiac
Skills stations
Read from the equipment RCSI photographs in its sample test room and the documents it asks you to practise filling in.
Observations and INEWS
Full set of vital signs on a mannequin or actor, scored on the Irish National Early Warning System chart, escalation by ISBAR. RCSI provides its own modified ISBAR sheet.
Medication round
Drug round with the tabard, the HSE medication record adapted for the test, dose and volume calculations, checking the patient and the chart.
Sepsis screening
The HSE adult sepsis screening tool (September 2025 version) and Sepsis 6. RCSI states only that version is used at the OSCEs from 24 January 2026.
Infection prevention
Hand hygiene at the elbow tap, the 5 Moments, putting on and taking off PPE in order, sharps bins, healthcare risk waste segregation.
IV and PVC care
Priming a line, changing a bag, the PVC care bundle, phlebitis scoring, the fluid balance chart.
Respiratory
Inhaler technique, nebuliser set-up, oxygen and target saturations, incentive spirometer, MRC dyspnoea scale.
Urinalysis
Dipstick and interpretation, clean catch and catheter specimens, CAUTI prevention.
What RCSI says about failing
About 60% pass the OSCE first time. RCSI names two causes: turning up under-prepared, and rote learning a script that falls apart when the scenario changes or the assessor asks a follow-up question. The fix it suggests is the same one we build on: read the actual documents, understand why each step is done, and practise the paperwork.
Station-by-station OSCE preparation is on our list. For now the theory topics above cover the knowledge each station draws on.