Occupational English Test – Writing (Nursing)
Read the case notes below and complete the writing task which follows.
Notes
Mr Gerald Baker is a 79-year-old patient on the ward of a hospital in which you are Charge Nurse. He is recuperating after a left total hip replacement (THR) surgery.
- Today’s Date: 28 February, 2024
Patient Details:
- Admission Date: 25 February, 2024 (City Hospital).
- Surgery: 26 February, 2024
- Discharge Date: 29 February, 2024 (Tomorrow)
- Ongoing high blood pressure.
Social Background:
- Marital Status: Widower (8 years).
- Lives at Greywalls Nursing Home (GNH) (4 years). No children.
- Employed as a radio engineer until retirement aged 65.
- Now aged-pensioner.
- Hobbies: chess, ham radio operator.
- Sister, Dawn Mason (66), visits regularly; v supportive.
- Plays chess with Mr Baker on her visits.
- No signs of dementia observed.
Medical Background:
- 2010 – Osteoarthritis requiring total hip replacement surgery.
- 1991 – Hypertension (ongoing management).
- 1987 – Colle’s fracture, ORIF.
Medications
- Aspirin 100 mg mane (recommenced post-operatively).
- Ramipril 5 mg mane.
- Panadeine Forte (co-codamol) 2 qid prn
Nursing Management and Progress:
- Daily dressings surgery incision site.
- Range of motion, stretching and strengthening exercises.
- Occupational therapy.
- Staples to be removed in two wks. (Before 15 March, 2024)
- Also, follow-up FBE and UEC tests at City Hospital Clinic.
- Assessment: Good mobility post-operation
- Weight-bearing with use of wheelie-walker; walks length of ward without difficulty.
- Postoperative disorientation re time and place during recovery, possibly relating to anaesthetic – continued observation recommended.
- Dropped Hb post-operatively (to 72) requiring transfusion of 3 units packed red blood cells; Hb stable (112) on discharge – ongoing monitoring required for anaemia.
Discharge Plan: Monitor medications (Panadeine Forte)
- Preserve Skin Integrity.
- Continue the exercise program.
- Equipment required: wheelie-walker, wedge pillow, toilet raiser. Hospital to provide walker and pillow. Hospital social worker organised 2-wk hire of raiser from local medical supplier.
Writing Task:
Using the information in the case notes, write a letter to Ms Samantha Bruin, Senior Nurse at Greywalls Nursing Home, 27 Station Road, Greywalls, who will be responsible for Mr Baker’s continued care at the Nursing Home.
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.
