NMC OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical
Examination) Exam Ultimate Guide: Questions and
Correct Answers with Detailed Rationales | Complete
Practice Scenarios for Nursing Competency Success
Prepare for your NMC OSCE with the most comprehensive collection of OSCE exam
questions, correct answers, and detailed rationales. Includes practice stations, clinical skills
scenarios, communication tasks, and evidence-based explanations to help you pass on your
first attempt.
• OSCE exam questions and answers
• NMC OSCE exam preparation
• Objective Structured Clinical Examination practice
• OSCE questions with rationales
• NMC OSCE sample questions
Question – Station: Medication Administration
Scenario:
You are asked to give a subcutaneous insulin injection to a diabetic patient.
Task:
Demonstrate the correct procedure for safe administration.
,Expected Actions:
Check the patient’s identity, calculate the dose, clean the injection site, and follow
the six rights of medication.
Administer the insulin immediately without checking the prescription.
Give double the dose if patient’s blood sugar is high.
Skip hand hygiene to save time.
Answer/Rationale: Correct: A Rationale: Following the six rights, verifying
identity, and practicing infection control ensures safe, NMC-compliant
medication administration.
Question – Station: Infection Control
Scenario:
You notice a colleague not using PPE correctly while caring for a patient with
suspected MRSA.
Task:
Demonstrate how you would respond.
Expected Actions:
Ignore it because it’s not your patient.
Politely remind the colleague and escalate if needed according to trust policy.
Publicly reprimand the colleague.
Immediately disinfect everything yourself without addressing the colleague.
Answer/Rationale:
Correct: B
Rationale: NMC emphasizes professional accountability, patient safety, and
escalation if standards are not met.
Question – Station: Respiratory Assessment
Scenario:
A 68-year-old patient with COPD presents with increased shortness of breath and
a productive cough. Vital signs: Temp 37.8°C, HR 102 bpm, RR 28/min, SpO₂
88% on room air.
Task:
Assess the patient and identify immediate nursing priorities.
,Expected Actions:
Administer high-flow oxygen immediately without assessment.
Perform a focused respiratory assessment, including auscultation, SpO₂
monitoring, and observing work of breathing. C. Notify the doctor before
assessing.
D. Encourage the patient to walk around to improve oxygenation.
Answer/Rationale:
Correct: B
Rationale: Immediate assessment guides safe interventions. Administering
oxygen blindly may worsen hypercapnia in COPD. Walking may exacerbate
hypoxia. NMC standards emphasize safe, evidence-based assessment.
Question 2 – Station: Pain Management
Scenario:
A 45-year-old post-operative patient reports pain 8/10 after abdominal surgery.
Task:
Demonstrate how you would assess and manage the patient’s pain.
Expected Actions:
Administer the prescribed analgesia without asking about pain.
Assess pain using a validated scale and consider non-pharmacological
interventions alongside medications.
Advise the patient to “tough it out” as pain is normal post-surgery.
Only report pain if the patient requests medication.
Answer/Rationale:
Correct: B
Rationale: NMC standards require patient-centered assessment, using a pain
scale, and considering holistic care. Non-pharmacological interventions should
complement medications.
, Question 5 – Station: Vital Signs Interpretation
Scenario:
A patient’s BP is 85/50 mmHg, HR 120 bpm, RR 26/min, SpO₂ 91%.
Task:
Identify the priority nursing action.
Expected Actions:
Reassess in 30 minutes.
Initiate fluid resuscitation and notify the doctor.
Encourage the patient to drink water and rest.
Document and continue routine observations.
Answer/Rationale:
Correct: B
Rationale: Hypotension with tachycardia and increased RR suggests possible
shock. Immediate intervention and escalation is required per NMC patient safety
standards.
Question 6 – Station: Neurological Assessment
Scenario:
A patient presents with sudden right-sided weakness and slurred speech.
Task:
Perform a rapid neurological assessment.
Expected Actions:
Perform a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), facial droop, arm drift, and speech
assessment.
Ignore neurological symptoms as the patient is conscious.
Wait for a doctor to arrive before assessing.
Encourage patient to stand up and move.
Answer/Rationale:
Correct: A
Rationale: Early identification of stroke symptoms is crucial for timely
intervention (FAST). NMC standards emphasize assessment, escalation, and
monitoring.
Question 7 – Station: Catheter Care
Examination) Exam Ultimate Guide: Questions and
Correct Answers with Detailed Rationales | Complete
Practice Scenarios for Nursing Competency Success
Prepare for your NMC OSCE with the most comprehensive collection of OSCE exam
questions, correct answers, and detailed rationales. Includes practice stations, clinical skills
scenarios, communication tasks, and evidence-based explanations to help you pass on your
first attempt.
• OSCE exam questions and answers
• NMC OSCE exam preparation
• Objective Structured Clinical Examination practice
• OSCE questions with rationales
• NMC OSCE sample questions
Question – Station: Medication Administration
Scenario:
You are asked to give a subcutaneous insulin injection to a diabetic patient.
Task:
Demonstrate the correct procedure for safe administration.
,Expected Actions:
Check the patient’s identity, calculate the dose, clean the injection site, and follow
the six rights of medication.
Administer the insulin immediately without checking the prescription.
Give double the dose if patient’s blood sugar is high.
Skip hand hygiene to save time.
Answer/Rationale: Correct: A Rationale: Following the six rights, verifying
identity, and practicing infection control ensures safe, NMC-compliant
medication administration.
Question – Station: Infection Control
Scenario:
You notice a colleague not using PPE correctly while caring for a patient with
suspected MRSA.
Task:
Demonstrate how you would respond.
Expected Actions:
Ignore it because it’s not your patient.
Politely remind the colleague and escalate if needed according to trust policy.
Publicly reprimand the colleague.
Immediately disinfect everything yourself without addressing the colleague.
Answer/Rationale:
Correct: B
Rationale: NMC emphasizes professional accountability, patient safety, and
escalation if standards are not met.
Question – Station: Respiratory Assessment
Scenario:
A 68-year-old patient with COPD presents with increased shortness of breath and
a productive cough. Vital signs: Temp 37.8°C, HR 102 bpm, RR 28/min, SpO₂
88% on room air.
Task:
Assess the patient and identify immediate nursing priorities.
,Expected Actions:
Administer high-flow oxygen immediately without assessment.
Perform a focused respiratory assessment, including auscultation, SpO₂
monitoring, and observing work of breathing. C. Notify the doctor before
assessing.
D. Encourage the patient to walk around to improve oxygenation.
Answer/Rationale:
Correct: B
Rationale: Immediate assessment guides safe interventions. Administering
oxygen blindly may worsen hypercapnia in COPD. Walking may exacerbate
hypoxia. NMC standards emphasize safe, evidence-based assessment.
Question 2 – Station: Pain Management
Scenario:
A 45-year-old post-operative patient reports pain 8/10 after abdominal surgery.
Task:
Demonstrate how you would assess and manage the patient’s pain.
Expected Actions:
Administer the prescribed analgesia without asking about pain.
Assess pain using a validated scale and consider non-pharmacological
interventions alongside medications.
Advise the patient to “tough it out” as pain is normal post-surgery.
Only report pain if the patient requests medication.
Answer/Rationale:
Correct: B
Rationale: NMC standards require patient-centered assessment, using a pain
scale, and considering holistic care. Non-pharmacological interventions should
complement medications.
, Question 5 – Station: Vital Signs Interpretation
Scenario:
A patient’s BP is 85/50 mmHg, HR 120 bpm, RR 26/min, SpO₂ 91%.
Task:
Identify the priority nursing action.
Expected Actions:
Reassess in 30 minutes.
Initiate fluid resuscitation and notify the doctor.
Encourage the patient to drink water and rest.
Document and continue routine observations.
Answer/Rationale:
Correct: B
Rationale: Hypotension with tachycardia and increased RR suggests possible
shock. Immediate intervention and escalation is required per NMC patient safety
standards.
Question 6 – Station: Neurological Assessment
Scenario:
A patient presents with sudden right-sided weakness and slurred speech.
Task:
Perform a rapid neurological assessment.
Expected Actions:
Perform a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), facial droop, arm drift, and speech
assessment.
Ignore neurological symptoms as the patient is conscious.
Wait for a doctor to arrive before assessing.
Encourage patient to stand up and move.
Answer/Rationale:
Correct: A
Rationale: Early identification of stroke symptoms is crucial for timely
intervention (FAST). NMC standards emphasize assessment, escalation, and
monitoring.
Question 7 – Station: Catheter Care
