In the frame. Photography students improve the experience for international health exam candidates

Local sights had a ‘close-up’ as part of a student project to create a calming environment for health professionals facing exams.

University of Northampton’s Competence Test Centre (CTC) welcomes internationally educated nurses and midwives to sit the Objective Structured Clinical Assessment (or OSCE). Candidates must pass this to practise in the UK, following approval from the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

There are five CTCs around the UK, and the University’s was the first to be established back in 2014. It is the busiest CTC, welcoming around 700 candidates each month on average.

Digital refresh

This means the CTC’s webpages are busy and, to ensure they continue providing a first-class service to visitors, they have recently had a refresh.

The webpages have been rebuilt to remove any ‘clutter’ and allow candidates to more clearly focus on what they need ahead of and after their exam visit.

Health Trusts and training organisations who work with the CTC now can more swiftly locate the right information (such as booking in their candidates) as well as the Centre’s Continuous Professional Development offer. These are short courses for registered nurses and midwives to update their skills and knowledge.

‘Changing Rooms’

For candidates who may experience ‘exam-xiety’, the CTC retains a comfortable and positive atmosphere and, to keep that as fresh as possible, there have been aesthetic improvements.

There is now a quiet room for contemplation, prayer, or breastfeeding and the candidate waiting room has been redecorated, both using repurposed University furniture. The video screen has new content to calm and inform candidates before their exams.

As part of this, the CTC commissioned a new gallery of local images. UON’s Jeremy Rawling was part of the project and talks about how it started: “We wanted to soften the look and feel of both rooms and to involve our students in this process. We approached Photography BA students with a brief which would meet the CTC’s needs and give them a ‘real world’ opportunity to interpret and deliver this.

“We requested images of beautiful architecture or landscapes of Northampton that would relieve candidates’ anxiety and promote feelings of positivity and inclusion, as many come from a GEM/Global Ethnic Majority background. And Richard’s students rose to the challenge!

“They submitted over fifty images, and after consideration by the CTC project team and tough evaluation of the photos, we shortlisted eight for printing and mounting…and we are extremely pleased with them.”

Josh French is one of the second-year students. He adds: “What better place to find calm and relaxing scenes than Delapre Abbey? Whilst adventuring around the lake (and almost falling in it at one point!), I came across a mossy branch, broken in a way that made it seem like it was waving at me. I immediately knew this was the perfect shot for the brief! The warm tones, the green moss, the soft bokeh (the unfocused area in the background) it all came together beautifully.

The calm and tranquility of nature. Josh French’s winning photo.

“Our group had many amazing photos selected, and I’m so happy mine was one of the final images selected. This brief served as a great way to interact with our local community and gave us some valuable skills for working within the photography industry.”

Richard Whitehead, Senior Lecturer in Photography, says: “Thank you to the CTC team for this opportunity. I am incredibly proud that our students have produced these stunning images, fulfilling a challenging brief that allowed them to hone their photography skills in a ‘live’ commission. We hope this display will ease any nerves of those attending their assessments at the CTC.

“The photography department welcomes commissions for other student projects across the University and beyond. Please email me with your requests: richard.whitehead@northampton.ac.uk.”

*Pictured are Jeremy Rawling, Richard Whitehead, Jim Smith, Technician Demonstrator and students Josh French, Mary Beard, Elena Zbranca, Julia Williams and Anastasija Horunzaja.