Occupational English Test: WRITING SUB-TEST: NURSING

TIME ALLOWED:            READING TIME: 5 MINUTES

WRITING TIME:             40 MINUTES

You are a Surgical Nurse in a post-operative ward. Your patient is ready for discharge today after CABG surgery.

Date:29/05/2021

Patient Details

Name: Mr Darwish Woods

Age: 77 years

Diagnosis: Coronary artery bypass graft

Family History

Married, carer for his wife (registered blind)

Daughter, married with children and lives overseas

Hobbles: Reading, cooking daily

Past History

Hypertension since 2011 (perindopril 1tab/daily)

High cholesterol since 2009 (atorvastatin 1 tab/dally)

Arthritis since 2007 (paracetamol 1 gm daily 4times

CAD (ECG, stress test, angiogram

Surgery: off pump CABG

23/05/2021

Admitted to hospital and underwent surgery on 24/05/2021 (graft from left leg)

Admitted in ICU for 24 hours

Administered IV antibiotics , analgesics and antithrombolytic agents

Chest tube insitu, drainage 20ml

Temp-37. 7C, PR-78/mt, RR-22/mt, Spo2-100°/o, BP-130/80 mm of Hg

Dressing in graft site

Provided elastic stockings and elevated leg for 24 hours

25/05/2021

Transferred to ward

Chest tube removed, wounds WNL

Complaints of pain over the chest and shoulder (administered Brufen)

Daily physiotherapy (deep breathing exercises, walking 4-5 mts 4times per day)

Exercise data sheet provided

Temp-37C, PR- 84/mt, RR-18/mt, BP-120/76 mm of Hg

29/05/2021

Ready for discharge (planned transfer to rehabilitation unit for 3 weeks) Follow up appointment:07/06/2021

Discharge instructions:

•          Assess wound over the chest and graft site

•          Dressing over the wound 2/weekly until sutures removed

•          Sutures removal after 2 weeks

•          Continue deep breathing exercises, walking 4-5 mts increase gradually

•          Avoid heavy lifting

•          Arrange carer and meals before discharge to home

WRITING TASK:

Using the information in the case notes, write a transfer letter to Ms Smith Brown, head of nursing, rehabilitation centre. Address this letter to Ms Brown, Head of Nursing, Brisbane OLD, Australia 4001.

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.

Sample answer by Lifestyle Training Centre

Dear Ms Brown,

Re: Darwish Woods, aged 77 years.

I am writing to transfer Mr Woods who requires rehabilitative care and management for the subsequent 3 weeks. He is currently recovering from a coronary artery bypass graft that he underwent in our hospital on 25/04/2001.

During hospitalisation, Mr Woods was treated with IV antibiotics, analgesics, and antithrombotic agents. His graft site, left leg, was dressed.  Daily physiotherapy, deep breathing, and walking for 4-5 mts, 4 times a day, were started. He was administered Brufen for chest pain. His recovery was good.

Mr woods has been hypertensive since 2011. He also suffers from Arthritis and high cholesterol since 2007 and 2009, respectively. He follows his medication regime for the same.

Mr woods is the only care taker for his wife, who is a registered blind. His daughter, with her family, lives abroad.

Based on the above, kindly receive him and provide on-going care. His wound over the chest and graft site requires daily monitoring and dressing twice every week. His sutures need to be removed at the end of 2 weeks. He needs to continue his deep breathing exercises and should gradually increase his daily walk. He must avoid heavy lifting. Prior to his discharge, please arrange a carer and provision for meals at his residence. His follow-up appointment will be on 07/06/2021.

If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Surgical nurse. 

(words count: 219)

Submit your OET letters for correction: (for a minimal fee)
https://goltc.in/oet-writing-correction/

OET WRITING TASKS