The Storm Within: Exploring First-Year Nursing Students' Experiences of the Objective Structured Clinical...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a common summative assessment in nursing education.
• Student experiences and perceptions of the OSCE process are underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore first-year nursing students' experiences with the OSCE.
• To understand the emotional and psychological impact of the OSCE on student learning and professional identity.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative content analysis of eight focus group interviews with first-year nursing students.
• Data collected between March and June 2025.

Main Results:

• Students described the OSCE experience in three phases: before, during, and after.
• The OSCE evoked a "storm" of emotions, being both empowering (validating growth, enhancing confidence, motivating learning) and stressful (raising concerns about fairness, causing frustration).
• The examination process impacted students' skills, resilience, and professional identity.

Conclusions:

• The OSCE is a significant, albeit emotionally challenging, experience for nursing students.
• Improvements are needed in student preparation, educator feedback, and academic-clinical practice alignment.
• Addressing student concerns regarding fairness and equity is crucial for optimizing the OSCE's effectiveness.