Click on the tab above for the relevant information

Infection control procedures for 2020 – these apply to everyone

Do not attend if you have had recent contact with a confirmed case or if you are feeling unwell at all. Inform Alex via email (alex@rnzcuc.org.nz) or on mobile phone (021 02447070) to let us know.
We may be checking your temperature on arrival. Anyone with a consistently high temperature may not be allowed entry.

Let us know if you have had casual contact with a confirmed case. You may attend but please inform us beforehand so that we may organise appropriate physical distancing and other measures.

Arrival/distancing/masks
On arrival, follow admin staff instructions and scan the QR code (or provide your contact details if you do not use the app).
We will enforce physical distancing at level 2.
Everyone should bring a face mask (applies to OSCE and written).  At level one, it is optional to wear.  At level two, everyone is to wear them.

Level 3 / 4
Any part of the country at these levels will not host an exam. Anyone in an area at these levels may NOT move to another area at a lower level for the purposes of taking the exam.

 

Written exam

These instructions are for NZ candidates.

UCPEX written exam is on Friday 20 November 2020. There are multiple locations, and you should refer to email instructions sent to you separately.

  • Auckland (MIT Manukau, room 301),
  • Hamilton (River room, Pinnacle Health, 711 Victoria Street, Hamilton)
  • Wellington (room C05, Otago University Wellington Conference Centre, 23A Mein St, Newtown)
  • Christchurch (Pegasus 24 hour surgery, Bealey Ave, room 1.05)

We strongly recommend you arrive by 8.45am. Sign-in and receive your candidate number outside the exam room itself.  If you fail to sign in by 9.00am you may not be allowed entry.

We brief you at around 9.15am, reading starts at 9.20am, and the exam at 9.30am. We anticipate letting you leave before 12.00pm

Bring a water bottle which you have with you during the exam.  We will ask you to turn all electronic devices (including phones and smartwatches) to silent and put them into a bag.  Bags are not allowed at the desks, and we will provide a secure area for them.  For any emergencies on the day, please use 02102447070.

Bring pens (we recommend at least two).  Do NOT use a red pen, which we reserve for markers.

The exam paper will be on your desk, with the instructions on the front cover. You may read the instructions but do NOT turn pages to read the questions.  We allow 10 minutes for reading, and as part of that we ask you to check that the candidate number is on every page of the paper, and to count the number of pages is correct.  After the 10 minutes reading time, we will let you know when you can start writing. You have 2 hours for completion.

You may leave anytime up until the final 15 minutes of the allotted time. After that time you will be asked to remain in your seat so as to not disturb others.  All papers and paper used to write notes will be handed in.  Once the invigilator has checked all papers are collected, you will be invited to leave.

All questions derive from Urgent Care Course material. The answers required are from the course material and what you have learned in utilising and applying the knowledge acquired during the course.  There are 83 short answer questions and 17 multiple-choice questions.

Written paper short answer questions

Some questions will call for a certain number of answers. If a candidate gives more than the required number of answers, the UCPEX markers will include the first-given answers and ignore any extra ones.

Common technical mistakes:

  • Leaving questions unanswered.
  • Illegible answers.
  • Not answering the question (For example, when a question calls for management of, or plan for a condition, don’t list clinical history or examination features, or tests you might order to help diagnose the condition. If elements of the history are called for, don’t give examination findings, and vice-versa.)

Please check you’ve answered all questions and that the answers are legible.

If you completely mess up an answer, cross out the answer entirely and put a star against it, along with the letters “PTO”.  Write the question number and your answer on the back of that sheet of paper.

Here are some examples of the SAQ:

What is the general dermatological term for a lesion which is a circumscribed area of change in normal skin colour, with no elevation or depression? Macule or patch
Which internal organ is most likely to be injured following blunt abdominal trauma? Spleen

You would write your answer in the space provided to the right of the question.

Written paper multiple choice

An example of the multiple-choice question is:

Regarding the Ottawa ankle rules, which statement is TRUE? A) Palpate for tenderness along the posterior rather than anterior aspect of the distal tibia and fibula.
B) A patient with malleolar zone pain but no bony tenderness does not require an ankle xray.
C) Palpate for bony tenderness in the foot at the base of the 5th metatarsal and at the cuboid.
D) They are not for use in children under 5.
E) Xrays are indicated if ankle dorsiflexion is less than 30 degrees.

 

And you would provide an answer by circling a letter on a separate MCQ answer-sheet supplied. The example below is NOT related to the example question above (ie the answer for the question above is not necessarily C):

Select one answer per question.

Results

The Board of Censors aims to have results to you before 5pm Friday 11 December.  We will email you and send a follow-up letter.

Click on the tab above for the relevant information

Infection control procedures for 2020 – these apply to everyone

Do not attend if you have had recent contact with a confirmed case or if you are feeling unwell at all. Inform Alex via email (alex@rnzcuc.org.nz) or on mobile phone (021 02447070) to let us know.
We may be checking your temperature on arrival. Anyone with a consistently high temperature may not be allowed entry.

Let us know if you have had casual contact with a confirmed case. You may attend but please inform us beforehand so that we may organise appropriate physical distancing and other measures.

Arrival/distancing/masks
On arrival, follow admin staff instructions and scan the QR code (or provide your contact details if you do not use the app).
We will enforce physical distancing at level 2.
Everyone should bring a face mask (applies to OSCE and written).  At level one, it is optional to wear.  At level two, everyone is to wear them.

Level 3 / 4
Any part of the country at these levels will not host an exam. Anyone in an area at these levels may NOT move to another area at a lower level for the purposes of taking the exam.

 

Thank you for examining at RNZUC OSCE 2020

The OSCE exam is on Saturday 21 November 2020 at Manukau SuperClinic, Auckland. Click here for map. There is plenty of parking on site. If you have not examined at the OSCE previously, we recommend arriving 7.30, otherwise 7.45 is recommended.

On arrival, please follow the admin team’s instructions, sign in, and ENSURE YOU COLLECT A NAME BADGE from reception (and wear it all day).

Go upstairs to module 7a, where someone can show you to the room you are using.

In your room there will be all equipment and paperwork required.  If you have a patient, the actor for that role should be in the room when you arrive.

Task paperwork and instructions will be laminated.

For each OSCE group, there will be a list of candidates, in order of appearance. The marking sheets will be similarly collated, stapled together in candidate order. Please retain all marking sheets until the end of the day.  There is at least one ‘gap’ and already one candidate has pulled out sick (we’ll tell you, but your paperwork still has their name etc, so please draw line across and put no show).

When marking, ensure you check the candidate name and number is the same as the one on the marking sheet. Hold on to all paperwork until after the debrief (AM will collect).

First OSCE starts 0900, second at 1230.

Lunch is from 1130 in the reception area of module 7. Staff can direct you.

At the end of the second OSCE, please gather in the reception area of module 7 for a debrief (around one hour). There will be post-OSCE drinks at Republic bar and kitchen.

Click on the tab above for the relevant information

Infection control procedures for 2020 – these apply to everyone

Do not attend if you have had recent contact with a confirmed case or if you are feeling unwell at all. Inform Alex via email (alex@rnzcuc.org.nz) or on mobile phone (021 02447070) to let us know.
We may be checking your temperature on arrival. Anyone with a consistently high temperature may not be allowed entry.

Let us know if you have had casual contact with a confirmed case. You may attend but please inform us beforehand so that we may organise appropriate physical distancing and other measures.

Arrival/distancing/masks
On arrival, follow admin staff instructions and scan the QR code (or provide your contact details if you do not use the app).
We will enforce physical distancing at level 2.
Everyone should bring a face mask (applies to OSCE and written).  At level one, it is optional to wear.  At level two, everyone is to wear them.

Level 3 / 4
Any part of the country at these levels will not host an exam. Anyone in an area at these levels may NOT move to another area at a lower level for the purposes of taking the exam.

 

Thank you for helping us with the UCPEX written exam.

Please arrive at your venue 8am Friday 20 November.

  • Auckland (MIT Manukau, room 301),
  • Hamilton (River room, Pinnacle Health, 711 Victoria Street, Hamilton)
  • Wellington (room C05, Otago University Wellington Conference Centre, 23A Mein St, Newtown)
  • Christchurch (Pegasus 24 hour surgery, Bealey Ave, room 1.05)

We are likely to be able to leave by 1pm.

In Auckland our first task may be to separate desks and move them around to suit the layout we require. This may need us to crawl on the floor.

Put out papers, banners, posters (direction signs), and if asked act as guides for the candidates as they arrive.
Candidates are likely to arrive from 8.30am.  Please make them stay outside the examination room.

When larger numbers, allow candidates into the room in rows (corresponding to the candidate numbers and how the papers are laid out in the room). All candidates need to have put their electronic devices to silent, in a bag, and leave the bag at the front of the room.

Briefing time starts around 9.15 and reading time starts at 9.20, with them allowed to start writing at 9.30am.

Once started, we may need to escort candidates to the toilet – we don’t need to go inside, but make sure they don’t talk to people on the way out/back.

During the exam, the main function at this time is invigilation. If you spot something suspicious (ie candidates using electronic devices, looking at someone else’s paper) then alert the invigilator(s).
You’ll need to be quiet and cannot use your phone. We are able to take turns to go out of the room for a few minutes, out of sight of the candidates, to access our phone.

After the exam and we let candidates go, we need to separate the papers for the markers (Alex to lead), replace the desks as they were when we arrived, carry any admin equipment back to cars.  This typically takes up to an hour.

Click on the tab above for the relevant information

Infection control procedures for 2020 – these apply to everyone

Do not attend if you have had recent contact with a confirmed case or if you are feeling unwell at all. Inform Alex via email (alex@rnzcuc.org.nz) or on mobile phone (021 02447070) to let us know.
We may be checking your temperature on arrival. Anyone with a consistently high temperature may not be allowed entry.

Let us know if you have had casual contact with a confirmed case. You may attend but please inform us beforehand so that we may organise appropriate physical distancing and other measures.

Arrival/distancing/masks
On arrival, follow admin staff instructions and scan the QR code (or provide your contact details if you do not use the app).
We will enforce physical distancing at level 2.
Everyone should bring a face mask (applies to OSCE and written).  At level one, it is optional to wear.  At level two, everyone is to wear them.

Level 3 / 4
Any part of the country at these levels will not host an exam. Anyone in an area at these levels may NOT move to another area at a lower level for the purposes of taking the exam.

 

Thank you for helping us at RNZUC OSCE 2020

The OSCE exam is on Saturday 21 November 2020 at Manukau SuperClinic, Auckland. Click here for map. There is plenty of parking on site.

Arrive by 7am.  On arrival, please ENSURE YOU COLLECT A NAME BADGE from reception (and wear it all day).

First tasks:

  • AM to put door signs out (shows the station in any particular room).
  • Reception set up (will require at least two people)
  • Boxes upstairs and place in room (boxes will have room/station number)

Setting up upstairs

  • Rooms set up, corridor lines (green tape dotted lines, water points)
  • Station information sign for each door
  • AC takes lead in coordinating
  • AW take lead in setting up rooms (major equipment)
  • DS set up radiology
  • HD set up timing
  • AM/HD set up zoom to patients (working from home)

Patients (Zoom)

  • Check zoom connection is strong and stable before 8am, then follow timings as per below or instructions given on the day.

Reception (2 people at least) 

  • Stop everyone and make them sign in.
  • We are likely to be checking everyone’s temperature.
  • Make sure everyone has badges and wears them.
  • All registrars sign in and go to cafeteria
    • registrars will arrive from 7.30am (group 1), and around 11.15 (group 2)
    • If anyone (group 1) arrives after 8.15 they remain at reception until AM/MW say they can continue
    • If anyone (group 2) arrives after 11.45 they remain at reception until AM/MW say they can continue
  • Caterers bringing lunch at 10.30 ish – let AC know by radio, and point them upstairs to the reception of module 7 (grab a box each before it’s too late).
  • Stay at reception until 12.30 (start of OSCE 2) / and cleared to move away by AM/AC
    • Then go help clear up cafeteria, then upstairs

Registrar briefings downstairs are 8.30am and 12 noon (AM and lead examiner)

OSCE pre-start (8.40am ish, 12.10pm ish)

  • Registrars move upstairs. Need trolley outside for bags.
  • Hand out handbooks, trolley inside
  • Move registrars out to corridor
  • AC/AM final check, start OSCE signal ( 9am, 12.30pm)
  • 1 or 2 people will move around as candidates (gaps in candidate stream) to let examiner know that there is no candidate for this slot.

End OSCE1 – approx 11.30

  • All candidates to the reception room.
  • Patients, examiners grab lunch in module7 reception.
  • AW, AM, collect handbooks at door. Remind candidates to stay silent.
  • Bag trolley back outside of reception
  • 3 to stand outside – top corridor, stairs, bottom of stairs: move all candidates out of the building when they are released
  • Once they’ve gone, grab lunch from module 7 reception. Eat quick.

Everyone back to their station by 12.15

Repeat for OSCE 2

End of OSCE 2 – approx 3pm

  • All candidates to reception room.
  • AW, AM, collect handbooks at door. Remind candidates to stay silent.
  • Point examiners to module 7 reception for debrief
  • Bag trolley back outside of reception
  • WAIT to remove tape and tidy rooms until told ok to remove by AM (don’t touch door signs)
  • Ongoing tidy up, stuff to boxes, boxes to cars etc.
  • AM or AC to remove door signs at very end (our way of knowing that we’ve done a final check)

Click on the tab above for the relevant information

Infection control procedures for 2020 – these apply to everyone

Do not attend if you have had recent contact with a confirmed case or if you are feeling unwell at all. Inform Alex via email (alex@rnzcuc.org.nz) or on mobile phone (021 02447070) to let us know.
We may be checking your temperature on arrival. Anyone with a consistently high temperature may not be allowed entry.

Let us know if you have had casual contact with a confirmed case. You may attend but please inform us beforehand so that we may organise appropriate physical distancing and other measures.

Arrival/distancing/masks
On arrival, follow admin staff instructions and scan the QR code (or provide your contact details if you do not use the app).
We will enforce physical distancing at level 2.
Everyone should bring a face mask (applies to OSCE and written).  At level one, it is optional to wear.  At level two, everyone is to wear them.

Level 3 / 4
Any part of the country at these levels will not host an exam. Anyone in an area at these levels may NOT move to another area at a lower level for the purposes of taking the exam.

 

OSCE

The OSCE exam is on Saturday 21 November 2020 at Manukau SuperClinic, Auckland. Note that this is NOT the same venue as the venue for the Auckland written exam.
Click here for Google map. There is plenty of parking on site.

Bring a water bottle, pens, face mask.  You do not need to bring a stethoscope.  You should dress as you would for a clinic. The module where the OSCE takes place is warm so you are not likely not to need a jacket. We will provide a secure place for bags and coats.

Ensure that you know how to use inTeleViewer. If you want to practise using it, please click on this link to download the training material.  You will be invited to download a compressed file which you can then extract to follow the instructions.

General timings

Group one people should aim to arrive by 8am. If you fail to sign in by 8.15am you may not be allowed entry.  This group will finish the OSCE before 12 noon.

Group two people should aim to arrive by 11.30am. If you fail to sign in by 11:45am you may not be allowed entry.  Expect to wait for up to 45 minutes until your briefing (to allow us to release group one). This group will finish the OSCE before 4pm.

You have been sent a separate email confirming which group you are in.

Instructions

Sign the attendance sheet, collect your name tag and fix it to your shirt/blouse.

You will be directed to the cafeteria where we will provide basic refreshments.

The briefing will take place at 8.30am for group one and 12 noon for group two.

You will be invited upstairs to the module, where you must hand in your bags and all electronic devices. For any emergencies on the day, please use 021 02447070.

Bags, coats, and electronic devices will be kept securely, and available once the exam is completed.

Handbook and initial preparation

We will give you your handbook, and ask you to check that the candidate number is on every page of the paper and that the number of pages is correct.

The handbook will include:

  • Cover sheet contains instructions.
  • Your rotation of stations.
  • Pages containing spaces for your answers to the stations that do not have an examiner present.

We will provide 10 minutes’ reading time, then take you to your first station. You will move out in groups. Please follow the instructions carefully.

Wait outside your first station until the buzzer sounds and you are instructed by staff to enter the room.

OSCE stations

The OSCE examination is intended to test candidates’ practical urgent care abilities and clinical skills.  In 2020 it comprises 15 stations and 2 rest stations, each lasting 7 minutes.  Stations include taking a history,  reviewing or recommending investigations, examinations, procedures and management. In 2020 some stations will include telehealth.

Move clockwise between stations. We recommend using the rest stations to visit the toilet. There will be yellow tape on the floor to guide you, and each station has a door sign with some indication of what to expect.

For each station:

  • A buzzer or bell will sound when you can enter the room.
  • You have 7 minutes in each station.
  • A buzzer or bell will sound to indicate that you must finish that station and move on.
  • Your next station is the next on the list on page 2 in your handbook. There are arrows and staff to guide you to the next station.
  • STAND OUTSIDE your next station. You may read the sign on the door.
  • After 2 minutes a buzzer or bell will indicate when to enter the room.

When interacting with a patient, introduce yourself as if you would in a normal consultation.

At stations with an examiner, follow any instructions given by the examiner, and explain to examiners what you are doing and why. OSCE examiners are not trying to trap candidates. Any examiner comments will be helpful (eg encouraging a candidate to move on if spending too much time on one point). Please keep to the time allowed, and finish when the bell goes.

After OSCE

Once you have completed all 17 stations, return to the reception room where you started. Staff will guide you.

Hand in your handbook to the staff at the door.  Take a seat and please do not talk with other candidates at this point.

The invigilator will check that all handbooks have been collected and that all examiners are happy.

During this time, do NOT talk to other candidates.

Once the invigilator is happy, you will be invited to leave.  Collect your bags and head straight outside (along the top corridor, down the stairs, and leave by the main exit).  Anyone in group one wishing to use the toilet facilities at this point MUST use the ones downstairs (as we would otherwise have to wait for you before we could move group two to the reception).

Results

The Board of Censors aims to have results to you before 5pm Friday 11 December.  We will email you and send a follow-up letter.