Occupational English Test – Writing (Nursing)
Read the case notes below and complete the writing task which follows.
Notes:
Imagine that today’s date is 19 June, 2024. You have transferred this patient to a neighbouring hospital five minutes ago for emergency assessment and treatment.
Patient Details:
- Name: Alvin Thomas Irvin.
- DOB: 15 July, 2013 (10 years old).
- Address: 789 Elm Street, Adelaide, SA 5000.
- Father: Mr. Thomas Irvin.
- Mother: Mrs. Sona Irvin.
Social Background
- Healthy, active child.
- Lives with parents and younger sister.
- Incident occurred while playing with friends on an abandoned road near home.
Incident Details
19 June, 2024, approximately 04:00 pm.
- Abandoned road near Elm Street, Adelaide.
- Friends confirmed the snake bite. Snake not identified.
- Presentation: 04:30 pm, 19 June, 2024.
- Bite Site: Right lower leg, lateral aspect.
- Local Symptoms: Pain, swelling, erythema around the bite site.
- Systemic Symptoms: Mild dizziness, nausea
- Vital Signs: BP: 110/70 mmHg. Pulse: 98 bpm. Respiratory Rate: 20 breaths/min. Temperature: 37.2°C.
Initial Management
- Limb immobilised and kept at a lower level than the heart.
- No tourniquet applied. Bite site cleaned with antiseptic.
- Compression bandage applied. Paracetamol 250 mg for pain relief.
- IV access established. Normal saline infusion commenced.
- Continuous monitoring of vital signs.
- Observing for signs of systemic envenomation (e.g., coagulopathy, neurotoxic symptoms).
- Blood samples for CBC, coagulation profile, electrolytes, renal function tests.
Plan
- Transfer to St Philip’s Hospital for further evaluation and management.
- Monitor for progression of symptoms.
- Potential administration of antivenom.
- Enclosures: Initial assessment and treatment records.
Writing Task
Using the information in this case notes, write a letter of referral to Dr Imran Yousuf, Emergency Department, St Philip’s Hospital, 456 Health Avenue, Adelaide, SA 5000, for advanced care and management of snakebite + prevent potential complications.
In your answer:
- Expand the relevant case notes into complete sentences.
- Do not use note form.
- Use the correct letter format.
The body of your letter should be approximately 200 words.
