| Interlocutor Role Play Card Patient Setting: Community Health Centre |
| You are a 30-year-old university lecturer who has recently (2 weeks ago) had your lower bowel removed due to Crohn’s disease and you have been fitted with a colostomy bag. Your vital signs are fine. However, you are depressed and embarrassed about the colostomy bag which you hope will be able to be removed in a few weeks. TASK When asked, tell the nurse that you’re feeling very depressed and embarrassed about the colostomy bag. Tell the nurse that you fear you won’t be able to have close contact with students and that sexual relations with your partner will be problematic until it is removed in a few weeks. Express dismay when told by the nurse that the colostomy bag is irreversible. Express concern that despite the nurse’s instructions you won’t be able to manage changing the bag. |
| Candidate Role Play Card Nurse Setting: Community Health Centre |
| The patient is a 30-year-old university lecturer who has recently (2 weeks ago) had his/her lower bowel removed due to Crohn’s disease and has been fitted with a colostomy bag. The patient’s vital signs are fine. The surgeon has informed the patient that wearing the colostomy bag is irreversible. The patient appears depressed. TASK Greet the patient and ask how he/she is feeling. Respond to the patient’s concerns but explain why the colostomy bag is needed. Explain sympathetically that wearing the bag is irreversible. Empathise with the patient while informing the patient that although lifestyle changes will need to be made, his/her fears are unnecessary and explain why. Then give brief instructions about management of the stoma and bag. Tell the patient that community health assistance is available whenever he/she needs it. Ask the patient to come back in 3 days’ time for another assistance session. |
Tag Archives: oet speaking
Osteoporosis OET role play
| Interlocutor Role Play Card Patient Setting: Hospital Ward |
| You are a 77-year-old osteoporosis sufferer recovering in hospital from a broken leg due to a fall at home. The surgeon saw you today and has stated you are ready for discharge. However, you would prefer to stay longer in hospital as you like the care and food there and are afraid your husband/wife will not care for you as well as the hospital does. The ward nurse is preparing you for your discharge but you dispute your readiness for this and ask to stay longer. TASK Tell the nurse that you want to stay in hospital rather than go home. Answer the nurse’s questions about your reasons for this. Reject the nurse’s suggestions for assistance at home after discharge. Suggest that the hospital “only wants to get rid of” him/her to make room for patients. Be insistent about staying longer in hospital. Reluctantly agree to discharge as advised. |
| Candidate Role Play Card Nurse Setting: Hospital Ward |
| A 77-year-old osteoporosis sufferer is a patient in your ward. He/she was admitted with a broken leg due to a fall at home but has now been given the all-clear from the surgeon for discharge today. You are with him/her to prepare for discharge. TASK Ask the patient how he/she is feeling today and share the good news about being ready for discharge. Ask the patient’s reasons for wanting to stay longer in hospital rather than going home today. Encourage the patient to be positive about being discharged and explain resources available for help in the home e.g. Community help for meals, visiting nurse, availability of mobility aids. Be sympathetic. Respond to any further concerns the patient has as to reasons for being discharged today. Be supportive when the patient agrees to discharge as advised. |
Urinary catheter insertion OET role play (model answer by Lifestyle Training Centre)
SETTING: Hospital Ward
Model role play by LTC
| SETTING: Hospital Ward NURSE: ‘You see a 40-year-old patient who had a urinary catheter inserted following a hernia repair. He/she had the catheter removed six hours ago and you are monitoring his/her bladder function. TASK: § Find out how the patient is feeling (any pain, whether passed urine, etc.). § Find out more details about the pain (onset, treatment tried, etc.). Explore the patient’s hydration (quantity, time of last drink, etc.). § Explain the purpose of the trial without catheter (e.g., ensure bladder function restored, etc.), and trial failure (no urine passed in six hours). Outline next steps (re-insert catheter, discharge with catheter bag, retrial within one week). § Warn the patient of possible risks of not re-inserting the catheter (e.g., urinary retention, infection, etc.). § Give details of catheter management (ease of emptying catheter bag, community nursing support available, etc.). Establish patient consent for catheter reinsertion. § Inform the patient of timescale for returning to hospital (within 1 week to remove the catheter, then repeat trial without catheter) and advise him/her to return sooner if he/she is worried (increasing pain, etc.). |
Model answer
Nurse: Hi John, I am Matthew, one of the registered nurses, working in this hospital ward. How are you feeling?
Patient: I am okay nurse, thanks.
Nurse: I am glad to hear that. From your records, I understand that you underwent a hernia repair, and presently your bladder function is being monitored without the aid of a catheter. Is that correct?
Patient: Yes, that’s correct.
Nurse: Okay. Before we proceed any further, I would like to ask you a few questions for documentation purposes. Is that alright?
Patient: Yes, sure.
Nurse: Thanks. I would like to know how you are feeling overall.
Patient: I am okay.
Nurse: Do you experience any pain?
Patient: Yes, I have a little pain in my abdomen area, but it is manageable. I don’t worry about it.
Nurse: Have you passed urine after the catheter removal?
Patient: No, I haven’t.
Nurse: Okay, when exactly did the pain start?
Patient: I think it started after the catheter was removed.
Nurse: Have you taken any pain medication?
Patient: No, I haven’t.
Nurse: Okay. Now, I would like to know about your fluid intake. Have you been drinking enough water?
Patient: Yes.
Nurse: When did you last drink water?
Patient: I’ve been drinking every hour.
Nurse: How much water have you been drinking?
Patient: Two glasses each time.
Nurse: That’s good.
Patient: I was hoping to be discharged as the catheter was removed.
Nurse: I understand John. Let me explain to you what’s going on. We’ve been checking your bladder function without the help of a catheter to see if your bladder function is fully restored. Unfortunately, the trial is a failure as you’ve not passed urine in the past six hours.
Patient: Okay.
Nurse: John, I know that it might sound frustrating; however, we need to make sure that your bladder function is fully restored; therefore, we need to re-insert the catheter.
Patient: I really don’t want the catheter to be reinserted. I hate it. There must be another way.
Nurse: I totally understand it John. However, please try to understand the situation. Let me explain to you the next steps. We will re-insert the catheter and discharge you with a catheter bag. You take rest at home, and in a week’s time, we will redo the trial. We hope that by that time, everything will be functioning fully. What do you think, can we proceed with that?
Patient: Actually, I hate the idea of wearing a catheter bag. Moreover, I don’t even know how to empty the bag.
Nurse: I understand. This indeed is not a pleasant situation. However, we must consider the risks that are involved if we don’t re-insert the catheter. For example, if we do not re-insert the catheter now, in worst-case scenarios, it could lead to urinary retention, urinal infection, and so on. Therefore, I would recommend you comply with the procedure for now as to avoid further complications.
Patient: Fine, I will do it; let me just go home after you re-insert the catheter. By the way, when exactly do I have to be back to the hospital?
Nurse: Thanks, John, for your agreement in this matter. Like I mentioned earlier, within one week, let’s say in 5-6 days, you can come back to the hospital for the retrial. However, please note that you can return to the hospital sooner in case if you feel any sort of abnormal or increased pain. How does that sound?
Patient: Sounds okay to me. I will be careful and monitor my pain. I really hope to get the catheter removed as soon as possible.
Nurse: We desire the same for you, John. Do you have any other questions or doubts that you would like to ask me?
Patient: No.
Nurse: To summarize our conversation, you’re currently under a catheter trial after undergoing a hernia repair. As you were not able to pass urine even after six hours of removal of the catheter, we will discharge you after re-insertion of the catheter and redo the trial within a week. Please remember to return immediately to the hospital if you feel any sort of elevated pain. I also recommend you stay hydrated at home as it would help your bladder function. Please drink plenty of water every hour. Do you understand everything I have explained, John?
Patient: Yes, nurse.
Nurse: Wonderful. Do I have your permission to re-insert the catheter?
Patient: Yes, you may.
Nurse: Thank you, John.
We hope that this model role play has aided your OET speaking skill. We’ve incorporated all 9 speaking criteria in this model role play. If you have doubts, please write in the comments section. For training, kindly get in touch with us. Thank you!
Aching feet
| PATIENT. Role play. Setting: Private Clinic |
|---|
| You are a 52-year-old working long hours in customer service. You are tired and have been experiencing aching feet. Sometimes you have numbness and tingling, which is worse at night. You are worried because your uncle has Multiple Sclerosis and your aunt has Parkinson’s disease. TASK: •Tell the nurse that you are very tired, you suffer from symptoms in the feet, your memory is not too good, and when you are stressed, your hands shake. •Explain that your work is stressful, moves at a frantic pace, and you have dozens of things to remember but don’t write them down. What can be done? •Accept that perhaps stress is causing your symptoms. •Agree to a referral to a podiatrist and seek advice from a doctor. •Reluctantly express the ‘real’ reason you are here – you are extremely ‘paranoid’ about the chance that you may have a neurological disease because of your family history. |
| NURSE. Role play. Setting: Private Clinic |
| You are attending to a 52-year-old who works long hours in customer service. The patient complains of being tired and has been experiencing aching feet. Sometimes he/she has numbness and tingling, which is worse at night. The patient admits to being ‘paranoid as his/her uncle has Multiple Sclerosis and his/her aunt has Parkinson’s disease. TASK: •Explain that working long hours and stress may produce symptoms such as tiredness and poor memory. •Suggest initial steps to improve sore feet issues (e.g., comfortable shoes, orthopaedic shoes; compression stockings, etc.). •Emphasise that you think the patient may be putting too much stress on him/herself. •Recommend a visit to a podiatrist. •Advise the patient to arrange a medical appointment. •Highlight the importance of not self-diagnosing and thinking the worst. |
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. |
Bladder infection
Asked for 26 sep 2020 OET speaking session
| PARENT. Role play. SETTING: City Clinic |
|---|
| You are the parent of a 4-year-old girl who has a suspected bladder infection, which she gets frequently. The doctor has requested a urine sample, and you see the nurse to get a sample bottle and to check the procedure for getting the urine sample. TASK: •When asked, say you need to get a urine sample from your daughter, who’s only four. Say you want to check thatyou just need to get her to pee into a container and then collect the sample from that. •Say you’ll follow the nurse’s instructions. Ask how quickly you need to bring the urine sample to the clinic. •Say your daughter keeps getting bladder infections, and you don’t think this problem will be resolved soon. •Say the doctor gave you lots of advice, for example, about hygiene, which you have been following. Admit it’s reallydifficult to get your daughter to drink anything, and she doesn’t like using the toilet at nursery. •Say that you are glad it is just a phase, and you’ll get the sample done as quickly as you can. |
| NURSE. Role play. SETTING: City Clinic |
| You see the parent of a 4-year-old girl who has a suspected urinary tract infection (UTI), which she gets frequently. You give the parent a sample bottle and advice on the procedure for collecting a urine sample, which the doctor has requested. TASK Find out the reason for the parent’s request to see you. Outline the urine collection process (e.g., get girl to drink water to fill bladder, collect mid-stream, use sterile samplebottle, etc.). Stress importance of not contaminating the sample (e.g., unreliable test results, cause of bladderinfections not identified, etc.). Outline the next steps after sample collection (taken to the clinic within 12 hours, initial dipstick test, full lab analysisif needed, etc.) Give information about bladder infections in children (e.g., common, caused by reluctance to pee/lack of hydration,etc.). Establish what advice the doctor gave the parent (hygiene, cotton underwear, unscented/unperfumed products,etc.). Reassure the parent about child not using the toilet at nursery (e.g., common phase, will grow out of it as she gets used to the teachers, etc.). Give advice on hydration (e.g., fruit, ice blocks, etc.) |
Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccination (PPV)
Asked for 26 Sep 2020 OET speaking session
| PATIENT. Role play. Setting: Suburban Clinic |
|---|
| You are 62 years old and have rheumatoid arthritis. You are attending an appointment to get information about the Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccination (PPV) which you have been advised to have. Task § When asked, say that the clinic sent a letter to say you had to have the vaccination. Say that you don’t think you need to have it. § Say that you always get an annual flu jab; you thought that would be enough protection. § Ask if you are likely to feel unwell after you have the vaccination. § Say you had an annual flu vaccination two weeks ago so maybe it is better to wait before you have another vaccination. § Say you felt fine after the flu vaccination; it didn’t cause any problems at all. § Agree to have the vaccination. |
| NURSE. Role play. Setting: Suburban Clinic |
| You see a 62-year-old patient who has rheumatoid arthritis. He/she is attending an appointment to get information about the Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccination (PPV) which he/she has been advised to have. Task: • Confirm the reason for the patient’s visit (PPV). • Explain the need for the vaccination (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis patients at higher risk of pneumococcal infections/compromised immune systems, etc.). Stress the importance of immunisation against pneumococcal infections (e.g., pneumonia, septicaemia, etc.). • Give details about the vaccines: PPV (bacterial, remains the same, given every three years, etc.) and flu (viral, strain constantly changes, given yearly, etc.). • Outline possible temporary mild side effects (e.g., slight temperature, redness/swelling at injection site, etc.). Recommend making an appointment with a GP if not well. • Ask the patient about any reaction to the flu vaccination (e.g., high temperature, muscle aches, fatigue, etc.). • Reassure the patient about having the PPV today (e.g., no adverse reaction to flu vaccine, suitable interval since earlier vaccine, etc.). Establish the patient’s consent to have the PPV. |
Malaria prophylaxis
Asked for 23 JAN 2021 OET speaking session
| PATIENT. Role play. Setting: Community Heath Centre. |
|---|
| You are 35 years old and are going on a rip soon. You know that you need to take Malaria medication but are concerned as you have suffered from depression in the past, and you’ve read that there is some malaria mediation you shouldn’t take. Task: § When asked, say you’re going on a trip around southeast Asia soon. Say you know you need to take malaria medication but you’ve had depression in the past and you’ve read that there is some malaria medication you shouldn’t take. § Say you’re going to be traveling for a month and will be mainly in rural areas, but plan to visit some cities too. § Say you’d rather not take medication for so long when you return, so maybe you can just try to avoid getting bitten. § Say you don’t want to take medication for a long time because you’re worried about the side effects. § Say you don’t want to have those problems. Agree to take the medication. |
| Nurse. Role play. Setting: Community Heath Centre. |
| You see a 35-year-old patient who is going on a trip soon and needs to take malaria medication. He/she is concerned about taking this medication as he/she has suffered from depression in the past, and has read that there is some malaria medication he/she shouldn’t take. Task: • Find out reason for patient’s visit. • Find out relevant details about trip (length of visit, rural/urban, etc.), • Recommend doxycycline for malaria prophylaxis (no contraindications for patients with history of depression, etc). Give details of dosage (100mg daily with food, Iwo days before trip, during trip and four weeks after return, etc). • Stress the need for both medication and bite prevention measures (e.g., high-risk area visited, length of visit etc). Give reasons for long dose of doxycycline (e.g.: reluctance to take medication over long period of time). • Give details of possible side effects (e.g., Heartburn, upset stomach, increased risk of sunburn etc.) Warn patient of risks of not taking medication if malaria is contracted (e.g.: heart/kidney problems, etc). |