The Marking Criteria of NMC Test of Competence (Part 2) for Adult Nursing is a document with the intention to provide candidates with additional information to help them to prepare for the NMC OSCE. As part of continuous improvement of the assessment and in response to changes in clinical best practice, the marking criteria for a specific OSCE station are subject to periodic changes.

The nurses, employers, and training centres are equally worried about this latest update in NMC OSCE. Firstly, as the  time gap for execution is limited. Secondly, the increment of the total number of exam stations from 6 to 10 and related changes has been in full stretch only recently and this has already affected the pass rate seriously. Thus, this immediate change in Marking Criteria, number of Clinical Skill Stations, Professional Values Stations, and Evidence-based Practice Stations have added to the panic of nurses.

As per the new Marking Criteria (V1.6), there are 6 new Clinical Skill Stations, 10 new Professional Values Stations, and 9 new Evidence-based Practice Stations. Let’s see them below.

New Clinical Skill Stations

• Administration of Suppository
• Bowel Assessment
• Nasopharyngeal Suctioning
• Nutritional assessment
• Oral Care Plan
• Oxygen therapy

New Professional Values Stations

• Concealment of bed status
• Confidentiality
• False representation
• Falsifying Observations
• Falsifying timesheets
• Hospital food
• Impaired performance
• Laboratory results
• Racism
• Witnessed abuse

New Evidence-based Practice Stations

• Ankle sprain
• Asperger’s syndrome
• Bedside handover
• Cervical screening
• Cranberry juice and urinary-tract infections (UTIs)
• Dementia and music
• Fever in children
• Restraint
• Saline versus Tap water

  
  However, Mentor Merlin will be updating the materials and classes as per the new marking criteria from the last batch of September (28/9/2022).