NMC OSCE Patient Assessment & NEWS2

Question 1

What does NEWS2 stand for?

Accepted Answer

National Early Warning Score 2

Answer

NEWS2 stands for National Early Warning Score 2. It is a standardised system developed by the Royal College of Physicians to detect clinical deterioration in acutely ill adults, using six physiological parameters.

Question 2

Which six physiological parameters are included in the NEWS2 scoring system?

Accepted Answer

Temperature, pulse, BP, respiratory rate, SpO2, consciousness level

Answer

NEWS2 uses six parameters: respiratory rate, SpO2, systolic blood pressure, pulse rate, level of consciousness (ACVPU), and temperature. Each is scored 0–3 and the total determines the clinical response required.

Question 3

A patient scores a total NEWS2 of 7. What is the recommended response?

Accepted Answer

Urgent review by clinician with ward-based competencies — consider transfer to higher care

Answer

A NEWS2 score of 7 or above triggers a score of High (Red), requiring an urgent or emergency assessment by a clinical team with critical care competencies. This should prompt immediate review and likely transfer to a higher level of care setting.

Question 4

In NEWS2, what ACVPU score is assigned to a patient who is confused but responds to voice?

Accepted Answer

C

Answer

In NEWS2, ACVPU stands for Alert, Confusion, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive. A patient who is confused (new confusion or disorientation) is coded as 'C' (Confusion), which scores 3 — the same score as V, P, or U in the consciousness component.

Question 5

A patient has a known diagnosis of COPD with a target SpO2 of 88–92%. How should their SpO2 be scored in NEWS2?

Accepted Answer

Using Scale 2 (designed for patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure)

Answer

NEWS2 introduced Scale 2 specifically for patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure (e.g., COPD) who have a prescribed SpO2 target of 88–92%. This prevents inappropriate high scores when SpO2 is within the patient's therapeutic range.

NMC OSCE Practice Test

NMC OSCE Practice Test

NMC OSCE Patient Assessment & NEWS2