The OET Writing Test for Nurses is an assessment of the English language proficiency of nurses who are seeking to work in English-speaking healthcare environments. The test assesses the ability of nurses to communicate effectively in English in a range of written formats, including referral letters, discharge summaries, and patient notes.
Writing Subset: Referral Letter
Time Allowed: Reading Time: 5 minutes
Writing Time: 40 minutes
Read the case notes and complete the task that follows Imagine today’s date as
18/01/2022
Patient details:
Name: Anthony Brown
Age: 48 years old
Marital status: Divorced, lives alone
Occupation: Sales manager
Personal History:
Engages in triathlon activities: cycling, swimming, and running 10 times per week
Goes to the gym twice a week
Follows a vegetarian diet
Binge drinks only on weekends
Medical History:
Hypercholesterolemia – 2015
Had a fracture in the right arm due to a fall in 2010
Was diagnosed with hypertension at the age of 45
Was diagnosed with sleep apnea at the age of 46
Family History:
Mother had dementia and depression
Brother has ADHD
Father has diabetes
Presenting Complaints:
Visual disturbances
January 17, 2022:
Woke up at 6 am and went swimming in the lake. He then cycled 10 km to work.
8 am, he had breakfast in the office.
2 pm, he had lunch on the office table while busy with work.
4 pm, he felt more tired than usual.
6 pm, he experienced vertigo when he stood up after prolonged sitting and working on the computer. He also experienced nausea and vomiting.
He was taken to the ED by his co-workers and was given IV diazepam as treatment. Got stabilized and was asked to follow up with his own GP.
8 pm, he experienced vertigo again while watching TV, along with decreased hearing in his left ear, nausea, and tinnitus. Felt like the room is moving in an
anticlockwise direction.
January 18, 2022: Visited his GP nystagmus, vertigo, and tinnitus – NAD
His GP suspected Meniere’s disease and requested a full blood count.
Diphenhydramine (antihistamine) was given 12mg×3 daily.
He was referred to an ENT specialist for a definitive diagnosis and treatment.
Using the above information in the case notes, write a referral letter to Ms. Sarah Tariq, an ENT specialist, to further manage the patient. Address the letter to: Dr. Sarah Tariq, City Hospital, 649/52 St, Melbourne, Australia.