Many internationally trained nurses fail the NMC CBT not because they lack clinical knowledge, but because they don't fully grasp UK nursing culture. At the heart of this culture is the Duty of Candour.
Understanding the NMC Code: Duty of Candour Framework for International Nurses
Introduced legally after major healthcare reviews, it simply means that healthcare professionals must be open and honest with patients when something goes wrong with their treatment or care which causes, or has the potential to cause, harm or distress.
How it affects your CBT answers
In situational judgement questions, you will often be presented with a scenario where a mistake is made. The distractors (wrong answers) might suggest fixing the mistake quietly to avoid alarming the patient. The correct answer will ALWAYS involve informing the patient, apologizing, and documenting the error.
The Golden Rule
Transparency is prioritized over protecting the reputation of the hospital or the nurse. When in doubt, choose the answer that is the most transparent with the patient.
Want to test your judgement? Try our Mock Exams to see real-world Duty of Candour scenarios.