OSCE examination guides
Written step-by-step guides for OSCE examinations. Open a station for the steps and signs, and practice related topics with free questions on SimpleMed+.
Article: Full cardiovascular examination with a complete explanation of the key signs and findings.
Article: Examine the respiratory system and interpret the key signs of lung disease.
Article: Perform a full abdominal examination and recognise signs of gastrointestinal (GI) and liver disease.
Article: Assess the arterial supply of the limbs and detect peripheral arterial disease (narrowed arteries that reduce the blood supply to the limbs).
Article: Examine the venous system of the legs and assess varicose veins (swollen, twisted veins).
Article: Focused examination of a swollen leg for deep vein thrombosis.
Article: Perform a digital rectal examination (PR, short for per rectum, done with a gloved finger) safely and systematically.
Article: Examine and characterise a stoma (a surgically made opening that brings the bowel or urinary tract onto the surface of the abdomen) and recognise its complications.
Article: Examine the groin and abdominal wall for hernias (where part of an organ, such as the bowel, pushes through a weak area of muscle).
Article: Neurological examination of the arms: tone, power, reflexes, sensation and coordination.
Article: Neurological examination of the legs, including gait (the way a person walks) and coordination.
Article: Examine the hand and wrist and identify systemic and joint pathology.
Article: Examine the thyroid gland and assess thyroid status (whether the patient has too little, too much or a normal amount of thyroid hormone).
Article: Assess the diabetic foot for neuropathy (nerve damage) and vascular disease.
Article: Recognise the clinical features of Cushing's syndrome (the effects of having too much cortisol for a long time).
Article: Recognise the clinical features of acromegaly (a condition caused by too much growth hormone).
Article: Examine the ear, perform otoscopy (looking into the ear canal with a handheld light and magnifier called an otoscope) and assess hearing.
Article: Perform fundoscopy (looking at the retina, the light-sensing layer at the back of the eye, with an ophthalmoscope) and recognise retinal signs.
Article: Measure visual acuity (how sharply a person can see detail) using a Snellen chart (the standard letter chart used to test sight).
Article: Examine the anterior segment of the eye (the front part, including the cornea, iris and lens).
Article: Assess a pigmented skin lesion (a mole or other coloured patch of abnormal skin) for features of melanoma.
Article: Describe and assess a rash or non-pigmented skin lesion.
Article: Examine the lymphoreticular system (the lymph nodes, spleen and liver) for lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes) and organomegaly (an enlarged organ, such as the liver or spleen).
Article: Perform venepuncture (taking blood from a vein) and take blood cultures (blood samples grown in a laboratory to find germs) correctly.
OSCE exams explained
What is an OSCE exam?
An OSCE, or Objective Structured Clinical Examination, is a practical exam made up of stations. At each station you do one clinical task, such as examining a body system, measuring blood pressure or taking blood. Each station guide above gives the steps in order, what to look for and the reasoning behind each sign.
What happens at the end of an OSCE station?
Most of the guides end the same way: wash your hands, then summarise your findings.
How should I practice for an OSCE?
Work through a guide one step at a time, in order. Use the reasoning given for each sign so that you can explain what you find, then finish by summarising your findings, as most of the guides do.
Does SimpleMed have OSCE questions?
Yes. SimpleMed+ has OSCE quizzes with free questions in its OSCE question bank.
Practice with OSCE questions
Test what you have learned from the guides with free questions in the OSCE question bank on SimpleMed+.
