How to revise
This was one of my biggest questions when it came to revising for my OSCEs : how do you even start to revise for a practical assessment ? Well , the tasks are things we do on a daily basis so just forget the examiner is there and act as if you are at work – which is easier said than done , I know .
I was able to read through the tasks before sitting my OSCE which enabled me to work out what steps to take to complete the task . The easiest way to make everything stick in your mind is to practise each task physically , over and over again . Whenever you have a spare minute : practise .
‘ Reading through the tasks is not enough , it ’ s best to physically run through them several times before the big day ’
Revising for this type of exam can be difficult when you ’ re not at work . However , tasks such as open gloving can be performed at home , as can communication tasks . Other things I found useful when revising at home were to read through each task and plan exactly which step I would do first , working through the whole task in my head .
I would also emphasise that just reading through the tasks is not enough – it ’ s best to physically run through them several times before the big day . Once I had run through each task and worked out which ones were my weakest , I made extra notes on them and put them in a separate pile . I then performed these tasks considerably more than the others until I felt confident performing them . Overall , I would strongly advise physically practising as often as possible – the more you perform the tasks the more you will remember them .
Vanessa ’ s OSCE tips
• Make revision fun to help you remember
• Practise every task but focus on your weakest
• Keep calm and concentrate on doing things one step at a time
• Use spare time before test tasks to plan
• Mistakes can happen but try to stay in the moment
• Don ’ t be afraid to talk to , or question , the examiner
• Involve the layperson whenever appropriate
• Remember , the tasks are the same as those you do regularly at work
• When it ’ s over , don ’ t reflect and ruminate , instead aim to relax
52 Veterinary Nursing Journal