Newborn preventive care and screening — branching viva

Station opening

Examiner: "The baby looks perfect. Why are you delaying discharge?" [8]

Strong candidate (must-hit)

• Appearance does not complete the preventive package. [8]
• States examination, vitamin K, bloodspot, hearing, CCHD oximetry, jaundice/DDH plan as complementary. [8]
• Distinguishes pass, fail, pending and incomplete. [8]
• Names an owner for incomplete items. [8]

Weak candidate

• "Feeding well so screens can wait until the GP." [8]
• Collapses all screens into one vague blood test. [8]

Branch A — CCHD fail

Examiner: "Foot saturation is clearly in the fail range. Baby is still feeding." [4]

Strong

• Senior review and no home discharge. [4]
• Echo pathway; consider non-cardiac differentials without losing cardiac concern. [4]
• Rural site: early transfer planning. [4]

Weak

• "Repeat tomorrow at home." [4]
• "Normal pulses exclude critical disease." [4]

Branch B — Hearing refer

Examiner: "Parents are devastated you said the baby is deaf." [11]

Strong

• Corrects: refer means more testing. [11]
• Books diagnostic audiology. [11]
• Avoids clap-test reassurance. [11]

Weak

• Confirms deafness on the ward. [11]
• Cancels refer because the baby startles. [11]

Branch C — Vitamin K decline

Examiner: "They will only accept oral vitamin K if it is as good as intramuscular." [16]

Strong

• IM most reliable. [16]
• Oral needs complete multi-dose adherence; residual late VKDB risk. [16]
• Documents discussion and follow-up without coercion theatre. [16]

Weak

• "Either route is identical in all infants." [16]
• Refuses any further engagement after decline. [16]

Close

Examiner: "Summarise the package in one sentence for handover." [8]

Strong

• One-line status for exam, vitamin K, bloodspot, hearing, CCHD, jaundice plan, open actions and family contacts. [8]