The delivery of nursing care varies significantly across the globe, with each country setting its own standards based on its commitment to the public. In the United Kingdom, these standards are regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The NMC strictly enforces a set of standards for all nurses seeking registration with them.

As an overseas-trained nurse, it is possible that your practice may not be equivalent to the NMC’s established standards. For this reason, the NMC has developed Test of Competence Part 1 and Part 2 to assess the professional skills and knowledge of all overseas-trained nurses.

For nurses, each OSCE is set at the level expected of candidates as they enter the profession (at the point of registration, not advanced skills). This means that you must show that you are capable of applying knowledge to the care of patients at the level expected of a newly registered nurse in the UK.

The examination is testing your ability to apply knowledge to the care of patients. All the scenarios and any questions relate to current best practices, and you should answer them in relation to published evidence.