NURSAMPLE05

WRITING SUB-TEST – TEST BOOKLET

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
You must write your answer for the Writing sub-test in the Writing Answer Booklet.

You must NOT remove OET material from the test room.

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Occupational English Test

WRITING SUB-TEST: NURSING

TIME ALLOWED: READING TIME: 5 MINUTES
WRITING TIME: 40 MINUTES

Read the case notes and complete the writing task which follows.

Notes:

Assume that today’s date is 15 May 2021. You are a nurse in Oldtown Hospital, responsible for the care of an
elderly patient who was admitted after a fall. He is now ready to be discharged.

PATIENT DETAILS:
Name: George Gale (Mr)
DOB: 24 Apr 1936, 85 y.o.
Address: 14 Long Street, Oldtown

Social background:
Retired retail manager
Widower (wife died 2019)
Son, 47 y.o., works abroad
No family close by
Living alone in own flat, level 2, no lift
Socialises w. neighbours
Independent, cooks, daily walks to shops
Social drinker, smoker – 10 cigs/day

Medical history: 2003: Osteoarthritis diag.

2009: Hypertension diag.
2013: GORD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease) – self treated with antacid tablets
2019: Non-specific colitis – ongoing monitoring, no treatment required

Medications: Paracetamol 500mg 2 tablets 4x/day (osteoarthritis)

Felodipine 5mg 1x/day (hypertension)

Presenting complaint:
Disorientation & fever (following fall)
Hospital admission:
10 May 2021:

Subjective: Pt reports fall 09 May – while brushing teeth, felt weak, ‘legs gave way’, fell backwards w.
headstrike, approx. 5hrs lying on floor
Neighbours heard call for help around 0300 10 May, called ambulance

2 wks before fall: single episode of vomiting, palpitations, dysuria

Objective: Confusion, disorientation

Temp: 38.1°C (high), BP: 155/80 (elevated), Pulse: 86 bpm (normal), RR: 26/min (elevated)
Urinalysis: ≥ 100,000 cfu/ml (high), 2 wbc/hpf

Diagnosis: Urinary tract infection (UTI) – ?cause of fall

Treatment Record:

10 - 14 May 2021:
IV antibiotics: amoxicillin 1 x 750mg/8 hrs & Pt’s regular meds continued
Observations: nil dizziness, nil palpitations
Temp: 37.2°C (normal), BP: 130/80 (normal), Pulse: 86 bpm (normal), RR: 20/min (normal)

15 May 2021: Ready for discharge to nursing home for temporary care
Concerns:
• Pt lives alone, no home help
• Keen to return to own home ASAP
• Significantly lowered mobility 30 min/day of physical activity to be encouraged
• Still episodes of confusion assessment for independent living recommended

Plan: Write to head nurse at nursing home re further care required

Writing Task:
Using the information given in the case notes, write a letter of discharge to Ms Gold, the Head Nurse at Primrose
Nursing Home. In your letter briefly outline Mr Gale’s history as well as your concerns and recommendations.
Address the letter to Ms Jane Gold, Head Nurse, Primrose Nursing Home, 3 Blackwood Street, Oldtown.
In your answer:
• Expand the relevant notes into complete sentences
• Do not use note form
• Use letter format
The body of the letter should be approximately 180–200 words.
Any answers recorded here will not be marked.

N K
L A
B
 NURSAMPLE05
Occupational English Test

WRITING SUB-TEST: NURSING

SAMPLE RESPONSE: LETTER OF DISCHARGE

Ms Jane Gold
Head Nurse
Primrose Nursing Home
3 Blackwood Street
Oldtown

15 May 2021

Dear Ms Gold

Re: Mr George Gale

DOB: 24 Apr 1936

Thank you for taking over Mr George Gale’s post-fall care. I am writing to provide a brief summary of his background
and plan for temporary residential care upon discharge.

Mr Gale, an 85-year-old widower, lives alone in his own flat. On 9 May, he had a fall at home and hit his head. It was
not till several hours later that his neighbours heard his cry for help and called the ambulance. Mr Gale later said that
he had suddenly felt very weak before he collapsed. He reported a single episode of vomiting, palpitations and dysuria
two weeks prior to this incident. Mr Gale was admitted to Oldtown Hospital with a fever and disorientation: symptoms
later attributed to a febrile urinary tract infection.

Mr Gale has hypertension and osteoarthritis, for which he takes felodipine and paracetamol. He also requires
regular monitoring for his non-specifi c colitis.

Mr Gale now has reduced mobility, therefore he needs to be encouraged to do 30 minutes of daily physical activity to
regain his strength. Despite his UTI being successfully treated with IV antibiotics, he still has episodes of confusion.
Although he is keen to return to his own home, an assessment for independent living is strongly recommended prior to
discharge from your facility.

Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Yours sincerely

Nurse