OET Case Notes 7.1

Occupational English test – Writing (Nursing)

Instructions:

• You have 45 minutes to write this letter.
• During the first 5 minutes, you should not pick the pencil.
• Start writing only when you are told.
• During the Reading Time, try to understand the case notes.

Details to Fill In:

• CANDIDATE NAME. ROLE NUMBER.
• DATE OF BIRTH. VENUE OF THE TEST. TEST DATE.

Read the case notes below and complete the writing task which follows.

Notes:

Imagine today’s date is 28th May 2024. Ms Petra Knodel, an Australian National currently in Liverpool (coaching her team of junior football players that is going to play finals in three days).

Patient Details:

• Name: Ms. Petra Knodel.
• Age: 36
• Gender: Female
• Occupation: Coach
• Hospital: St. Clare’s Hospital, Liverpool.
• Discharge Date: 27th May 2024.

Admission Details:

• Admission Date: 20th May 2024
• Admission Complaints: Pain in joints (ankle, back, fingers, hands, muscles, neck, wrist), decreased range of motion, difficulty walking, muscle weakness, joint stiffness, tenderness, swelling, bump on finger.
• No bony outgrowth in fingers or toes, neck stiffness, physical deformity.

Diagnosis:

• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• ? Vitamin D deficiency.

Interim Treatment being provided

• Hydrotherapy (Commenced for a week. Will continue at home).
• Stretching, massage, acupuncture.

Self-Care Measures (Advised and Explained):

• Physical exercise.
• Weight loss.
• Heating pad
• Ice packs
• Cold compress

Surgical History:

• No Hip replacement, no Knee replacement, no joint replacement.

Medications:

• Ibuprofen 400 mg, three times daily.
• Prednisone 10 mg, once daily.
• Paracetamol 500 mg, as needed (up to four times daily)
• Tramadol 50 mg, as needed for severe pain (up to three times daily).
• Methotrexate 10 mg, once weekly

Past Medical History:

• Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 5 years ago.
• Vitamin D deficiency (treated with supplements)
• History of stress fractures due to high-intensity training

Family History:

• Mother: Osteoarthritis
• Maternal grandmother: Rheumatoid arthritis

Education Provided:

• Importance of adhering to medication regimen to manage arthritis symptoms and prevent flare-ups.
• Techniques for joint protection and energy conservation to minimize stress on affected joints.
• Nutritional advice emphasizing a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals to address possible deficiencies.
• Encouraged regular, moderate physical activity tailored to her abilities to maintain joint flexibility and overall fitness.
• Recommended use of heating pads and cold compresses to manage pain and inflammation.
• Advised on weight management strategies to reduce joint stress.

Discharge Details:

• Discharge Condition: Stable with manageable pain levels, improved understanding of condition management.

27/05/2024 02:00 AM

• Ms Knodel’s husband called up her GP from home and reported that her condition suddenly worsened at night. Intolerable pain in the joints that made the patient black out twice.
• The GP decides that the patient be transferred under emergency to the nearest hospital.

Plan:

• Transfer to Dr. Fabian at the Emergency Department, Suburban Hospital, Liverpool for further evaluation and management.

Writing Task

Using the information the case notes, you need to write a referral letter for Ms Knodel to Dr Sigmund Fabian, Rheumatologist, Michigan 88 Hospital, Bad-waters, Liverpool, UK. for urgent assessment and early healing to make her ready to train her team.

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. However, you needn’t include any irrelevant information to reach the word-count; nor do you have to omit any information to avoid exceedance.

Melons Steps

• Mark (M) PPRRAADDDDDWK.
• Eliminate (E) irrelevant information.
• Launch (L) the letter with DADR.
• Open (O) the letter with PRPDD or PRPTT.
• Narrate (N) the remaining paragraphs using V or W.
• Sign (S) the letter with S/F.

Melons Errors

• Punctuation “Marks”.
• Follow “Expansion” Rules.
• Obey “Language” Rules.
• Have an “Order” (DADR, PRPDD, V/W, S/F)
• Do not change “Names”.
• Sex (Mr, Ms, Mrs, His, Her).