Further to the RCVS’ announcement that some of the OSCE tasks have been changed, a breakdown of changes can be found below:
LD01
Now an 18 step task
Step 9 now reads – Using a correct technique carefully place a cover slip over sample
Step 17 now reads – Focus the microscope to locate a crystal
They have removed the steps for adjusting coarse & fine focus and methodically scan the area of the slide
LD02
Step 6 now reads – fill the tube to approximately ¾ full
Step 12 now reads – clay plug is touching outer rim
LD03
Step 11 now reads – clean the prism with water
Step 19 now reads – wait for appropriate length of time (detailed on dipstick instructions)
LD04
Note at the bottom of the task instructions say ‘the microscope and spreader slides have been pre-cleaned’
Now only 35 steps as ‘clean & dry spreader slide’ has been removed
Step 8 now reads – ‘draw up blood into the tube’
LD05
Now only 15 steps
Step 9 now reads ‘adjust substage condenser to an appropriate height’
‘Read and correctly record H scale’ and ‘Read and correctly record V scale’ have now been made grey criteria
LD06
Step 20 now reads – select appropriate antiseptic skin preparation swab
LD07
Now a 25 step task
Step 2 now reads – ask for assistance and give instructions for patient to be restrained
Step 6 & 7 have been swapped round and step 6 is now a grey criteria
Step 10 now reads – label swab with animals name/ID, owners name and the dateStep 19 now reads – seal bag ensuring that air is removed
Step 25 now reads – contaminated gloves not worn during completion of steps 9-23
LD08
Now a 24 step task
The same amendments have been made to this task as LD07. Step 25 includes steps 8-22
NC05
Step 2 now reads – select small amount of padding e.g. cotton wool or synthetic padding
The order of some steps have been swapped round
Step 12 now reads – dressing applied in an aseptic manner i.e. side facing wound should not be touched
NC06
The order of some steps have been swapped round
Step 2 now reads – select small amount of padding e.g. cotton wool or synthetic padding
Step 12 now reads – dressing applied in an aseptic manner i.e. side facing wound should not be touched
NC07
The order of some steps have been swapped around
Step 1 now reads – select small amount of padding e.g. cotton wool or synthetic padding
NC08
The order of some steps have been swapped around
Step 2 now reads – select small amount of padding e.g. cotton wool or synthetic padding
Step 13 now reads – dressing applied in an aseptic manner i.e. side facing wound should not be touched
NC09
The order of some steps have been swapped around
Step 2 now reads – select small amount of padding e.g. cotton wool or synthetic padding
NC10
The order of some steps have been swapped round
Step 2 now reads – select small amount of padding e.g. cotton wool or synthetic padding
Step 12 now reads – dressing applied in an aseptic manner i.e. side facing wound should not be touched
NC11
Step 2 now a key step but step 26 is no longer a key step
NC16
Step 14 now reads – administer correct volume of food slowly
Step 17 now reads – remove any food debris from outside of tube
Step 18 now reads – complete hospital sheet with diet used, date, time and volume of food administered
Step 19 now reads – tube feeding demonstrated safely
NC17
Step 8 now reads ‘After collection of urine, ensure bag is suspended below the level of the patients bladder
NC19
Step 2 now reads – calculate correct dosage of medication prescribed
NC20
Step 16 now reads – place the rope around the horses neck, and hold both ends of the rope to restrain the horse
NC21
Additional task point reads ‘Note you should assume you have washed your hands’
Students no longer need to wear gloves for this task
Step 4 has been changed from ‘select and appropriate needle to ‘select needle’
Step 18 – ‘administer drug slowly’ no longer key step
New key steps added to step 18 (remove syringe and needle from port) step 19 (open drip line to run medication through)
Step 24 – set fluid admin rate as requested now key step
NC22
Step 11 now reads ‘select heparinised saline or saline solution’
Students no longer need to wear gloves for this task
SA01
Step added ‘check for leaks in breathing system’
SA02
Now a 25 step task
Step 8 now reads – place fluabsorber below the level of the patient
Step 9 now reads – correct breathing system assembled correctly – major criteria
Step 10 now reads – breathing system attached correctly to machine and scavenging – major criteria
Step 19 now reads – check for leaks in the breathing system
Step 20 now reads – fully open APL valve and leave open – major criteria
SA03
Now a 25 step task
This task now includes selecting/preparing an ET tube
The order of some steps have been swapped around
Step 5 now reads – place fluabsorber below the level of the patient
Added new step ‘Correctly set the Fresh gas flow using the Oxygen flowmeter’
SA04
The order of some steps have been swapped around
Step 5 now reads – place fluabsorber below the level of the patient
TP01
Now a 33 step task
Step 24 now reads – pull the glove over the first hand encapsulating the cuff fully
Step 28 now reads – pull the glove over the first hand encapsulating the cuff fully