ABSTRACT
Typically, history taking OSCE stations seek to assess your ability to obtain an episodic or problem-focused history from a patient presenting with a specific common complaint, such as a cough, chest pain or urinary symptoms. It is possible that at the end of a history taking station, you will be asked to give a list of possible differential diagnoses relevant to the scenario. It is your ability to elicit accurate and detailed information from a patient within a structured analytical framework which is the underlying theme that will be assessed during the history taking OSCE. Taking a history from a patient is the fundamental feature of a consultation. Without accurate and analytical history taking it is impossible to establish a differential diagnosis for a patient’s presenting problem. History taking formats utilise a structured framework for acquiring and organising health information about an individual patient. It is the focal point of the assessment process as it establishes the interactions and subsequent social relationship between nurse practitioner and patient; as such it is important that the style and tone of your history taking is responsive to the particular needs of an individual patient.
