OCCUPATIONAL ENGLISH TEST
WRITING SUB-TEST: NURSING
TIME ALLOWED: READING TIME: 5 MINUTES
WRITING TIME: 40 MINUTES
Read the case notes below and complete the writing task which follows.
Notes:
You are a registered nurse working at Newtown Community Hospital. Your patient, Ms Mary Bell, is being discharged today.
Patient: Mary Bell (Ms)
Age: 66 Years
Marital status: Single
Family: Nil
First admitted: 24 June 2017, Newtown Community Hospital
Discharge: 15 July 2017
Diagnosis: Unstable diabetes mellitus.
Small infected (left) foot ulcer.
Medical history: Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus – 15 years.
Medications: Glibenclamide (Glimel) 5mg daily.
Metformin (Diabex) 850mg t.d.s.
Amoxycillin/clavulanate (Augmentin Duo Forte) 875/125mg orally, b.d.
Social/family background: Retired at 65 from managerial position 2016.
Lives alone in own four-bedroom home.
Income: small pension – much lower than pre-retirement income.
Reports no relatives or close friends.
Reports no outside interests.
Since retirement alcohol intake has increased and dietary quality has decreased.
Periodic problems with self-administration of hypoglycaemic medication.
Nursing management and progress:
Medical hypoglycaemic agent (glibenclamide) to continue.
Antibiotic therapy (Augmentin Duo Forte) for review at completion of current course.
Ulcer daily saline dressing, monitor wound margins, observe for signs of complications, review
healing progress, etc.
Discharge plan: Monitor medication compliance, blood sugar levels, alcohol intake, diet.
Encourage moderate exercise programme.
Suggest establishment of income-producing activity.
Encourage establishment of social activities.
Prepare a letter to the community nurse, emphasising the need for an overall life-style plan, and
suggesting involvement of community social worker service.
Writing Task:
Using the information given in the case notes, write a letter of discharge to Ms Jane Rudik, the community nurse at Newtown
Community Health Centre, informing her about the patient’s condition and her medical and social needs. Address your letter
to Ms Jane Rudik, Community Nurse, Newtown Community Health Centre, Newtown.
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.
OCCUPATIONAL ENGLISH TEST
WRITING SUB-TEST: NURSING
SAMPLE RESPONSE: LETTER OF DISCHARGE
Ms Jane Rudik
Community Nurse
Newtown Community Health Centre
Newtown
15 July 2017
Dear Ms Rudik,
Re: Ms Mary Bell
Ms Bell has been an inpatient at Newtown Community Hospital for the past three weeks.
Ms Bell was admitted for stabilisation of her non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, for which she has been
treated with oral anti-hyperglycaemic agents (glibenclamide 5mg daily; metformin 850mg t.d.s.) for the past
15 years. She has also developed a small ulcer on her left foot, which has responded to antibiotic therapy
(Augmentin Duo Forte) and daily saline dressings. She will require ongoing management and monitoring of the
wound for complications.
Ms Bell retired from a managerial position at the end of 2016, and has not found it easy to establish a new
routine in her retirement. She would beneÄt from your help in monitoring her medication, blood sugars,
alcohol intake and diet. It might also help to introduce her to some ways of expanding her social activities
and engaging in some moderate exercise. As her income has decreased since her retirement, she might be
encouraged to undertake some income-producing activity. A referral to the community social worker service
may be of beneÄt.
I am sure that you will be able to help her establish an ongoing plan for a healthier and more productive
lifestyle for her retirement.
Your sincerely,
Nurse
