Looking ahead to the OSCEs as a pre-reg optometrist

I am quite conscious of refining my technique at this stage, to avoid carrying forward any bad habits. Through Boots Opticians, I have completed the Johnson & Johnson Success Through Education Programme, which gives me access to a mock OSCE that I think will be particularly useful. I’ve also been speaking to recently qualified colleagues to get a clearer sense of what to expect and where to focus my efforts.

Over the past few months, I have realised that my progress has been more significant than it feels day-to-day.

The changes aren’t always obvious in the moment, but when I reflect back to where I was in December, I feel much more confident in both my clinical decision-making and patient interactions. I’ve also started to appreciate the wider aspects of the role more, particularly meeting people from a range of backgrounds and getting a small insight into their lives, which adds a lot to the job beyond the clinical side.

At the start of my pre-registration placement, I don’t think I fully appreciated how much of the role sits outside of what you can study.

This includes skills such as teamwork, managing difficult patients, and even guiding people on what frame suits them. Those are skills you really only develop in practice. Having worked as an optical assistant during university definitely helped, as it gave me early exposure to these aspects of the job.

The most important thing I’ve learnt in the past 60 days is that there often isn’t a single ‘right’ answer.

Different clinicians may approach the same problem in different, equally valid ways. It has reinforced the importance of treating each patient as an individual, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all solution.

I feel much more confident in both my clinical decision-making and patient interactions

The hardest moment of my pre-reg placement so far has been patient communication, particularly those who are worried or confused.

This could include patients experiencing either emergency or non-urgent care, as well as those who are unhappy about waiting one or two days to be seen. While I can understand their perspective, it can be challenging to balance explaining how serious the condition is while also managing expectations around timing of treatment. It can also add pressure on staff when they are repeatedly asked for updates or clarification. This issue can sometimes be exacerbated by delays with referral processes, which are common.

My top tip for managing these situations is to stay calm and consistent in the message and focus on clear structured explanations, so the patient understands both the reason for urgency and the limits of what can be done immediately.

I also make sure to document everything clearly: what the patient has been told, any resources provided, and all interactions with staff, so there is a complete record and everyone involved has the best chance of staying informed.