Using the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) to assess orthopaedic clinical skills for the registered nurse

This paper explores one assessment strategy used by a Higher Education Institute (HEI) to assess the skills of Registered Nurses (RN) caring for children, young people, adults and older people with either an orthopaedic condition or fracture. The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), a recognised strategy for assessing clinical skills within nurse education, was chosen as it pre-existed as a method of assessment which was not 'standard set'. The paper offers a synopsis of the OSCE as a means of assessment and its advantages and disadvantages along with a literary impression of student participation. It then recounts application of the orthopaedic/fracture trauma OSCE for the RN within a HEI in Northern Ireland (NI) before reiterating the development of stations, piloting and standard setting of orthopaedic related OSCE's. The paper concludes with the results of the 'standard set' OSCE's undertaken by 27 students in May 2010, arising issues, proposed changes, guidance and future plans. The term 'orthopaedic related' will be used throughout this paper when depicting orthopaedic and fracture trauma nursing. The expression 'children's' will be adopted when relating to children and young people.