MRSA screening

Asked for 5 December 2020 OET speaking session

PATIENT. Role play. Setting: Pre-Surgery Clinic
You are 60 years old and are going to have an operation on your knee this week. You have been told you need to have MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) screening. You attend an appointment for a preoperative assessment and ask for more information about the screening.  TASK:  •When asked, say you have been told that you need to get tested for MRSA, but you don’t really understand why it is necessary. •Say the reason for the MRSA screening is clear now but you’d like to know more about what the screening involves. •Ask what will happen if the test confirms that you have the bacteria. •Say even if your test is negative now, you are worried you might pick up the bacteria in hospital, and then won’t be able to have the operation. •Say everything is a lot clearer now; you are okay to have the screening.
NURSE. Role play. Setting: Pre-Surgery Clinic
You see a 60-year-old patient who is going to have an operation on his/her knee this week. He/she attends the clinic for a preoperative assessment and wants more information about the MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) screening.  TASK:  •Confirm reason for patient’s appointment (preoperative assessment before knee operation). Find out if patient has any questions. •Give information about MRSA (e.g., common skin/nasal bacteria, resistant to antibiotics, harmless to healthy people, causes complications for surgery/recovery, etc.). Describe purpose of MRSA screening (e.g., infection control in hospitals, etc.). •Outline procedure for MRSA screening (e.g., swabs from nose/groin, sent to laboratory for testing, results within a few days, etc.). Find out any other concerns. •Explain next steps if result is positive (e.g., prescription for antiseptic body wash, extra hygiene measures, ointment for nostrils: five days, retest, etc.). •Reassure patient about precautionary measures to prevent spread of bacteria (strict cleaning regime, e.g.,antibacterial hand-wash, sterilisation of equipment, monitoring of facilities, etc.). Establish patient’s consent to have screening.

Model answer

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🎭 OET Speaking Role Play – Full 5-Minute Conversation

Setting: Pre-Surgery Clinic
Characters: Nurse & Patient
Context: The patient is due for knee surgery and has concerns about MRSA screening.

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👩‍⚕️ NURSE:

Good morning! I’m Nurse Priya. Welcome to the clinic. You must be Mr. Thomas, here for your pre-surgery assessment?

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👨‍🦳 PATIENT:

Yes, that’s right. I’ve been told I need to get tested for something called MRSA, but no one really explained what it is. I don’t quite get why it’s necessary.

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👩‍⚕️ NURSE:

That’s absolutely fine, Mr. Thomas. It’s completely normal to have questions, especially before surgery. I’m glad you brought it up. Would you like me to walk you through it step by step?

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👨‍🦳 PATIENT:

Yes, please. I just want to understand what’s going on.

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👩‍⚕️ NURSE:

Of course. MRSA stands for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. It’s a type of bacteria that can live on the skin or inside the nose without causing any problems. In fact, many people carry it without even knowing.

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👨‍🦳 PATIENT:

Really? So it’s not always dangerous?

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👩‍⚕️ NURSE:

Exactly. For healthy people, it’s usually harmless. But during surgery, especially with procedures like the one on your knee, there’s a risk that bacteria can enter the body and cause serious infections. MRSA is resistant to many antibiotics, which makes it trickier to treat — that’s why we try to catch it early.

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👨‍🦳 PATIENT:

That’s starting to make sense. But what’s involved in the screening?

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👩‍⚕️ NURSE:

The screening is very simple — we’ll just take swabs from your nose and groin area. It’s completely painless and only takes a few seconds. We then send them to the lab, and the results usually come back within two to three days.

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👨‍🦳 PATIENT:

Alright. And if it turns out I have this MRSA?

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👩‍⚕️ NURSE:

If your result is positive, don’t worry — we’ll provide you with a special antiseptic body wash and a nasal ointment to use for five days. These reduce the bacteria to safe levels. Sometimes we do a follow-up test just to confirm everything’s cleared before surgery.

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👨‍🦳 PATIENT:

That sounds manageable. But I’ve heard stories… What if I pick up MRSA while I’m in the hospital? Even if my test is negative now?

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👩‍⚕️ NURSE:

That’s a really good question, and you’re not alone in thinking that. Hospitals take MRSA very seriously. We follow strict infection control measures — things like regular deep cleaning, proper hand hygiene, sterilised instruments, and barrier precautions. These steps dramatically reduce the chances of picking it up during your stay.

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👨‍🦳 PATIENT:

That’s a relief to hear. I was genuinely nervous about all this.

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👩‍⚕️ NURSE:

It’s completely natural to feel a bit anxious. You’re taking a big step by having this surgery, and we want everything to go smoothly. This screening is just one way we make sure you’re safe and well cared for.

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👨‍🦳 PATIENT:

Thank you. Everything’s a lot clearer now. I didn’t realise how much went on behind the scenes.

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👩‍⚕️ NURSE:

We try to cover all the bases! It’s great that you’re asking these questions — it shows you’re taking your health seriously. Are you happy to go ahead with the screening today?

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👨‍🦳 PATIENT:

Yes, I’m ready. Let’s get it done.

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👩‍⚕️ NURSE:

Perfect. I’ll collect the swabs now — it’ll just take a minute. If anything comes up in the results, we’ll contact you immediately and guide you through the next steps. You’re doing the right thing, Mr. Thomas.

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👨‍🦳 PATIENT:

Thanks again. I feel much better about all of this.

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👩‍⚕️ NURSE:

You’re very welcome. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

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✅ Duration: Approx. 5 minutes when spoken with pauses and natural pace
✅ Tone: Empathetic, structured, and profession-focused
✅ Aligned with OET Criteria: Yes (all 9 criteria covered)

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