OET Writing Samples for Nurses – How to Practice OET Writing?

The OET Writing Samples for Nurses allows you to familiarise yourself with the Writing section better. This module would assess your skill in effectively communicating through letters. It is based on actual scenarios that might arise in a healthcare setting, giving you exposure to the real-life work situation that you might experience in your job as a healthcare professional.

One of the various options for writing that you might encounter once you register for the OET in the Nursing category involves writing a transfer or referral, or discharge letter. Along with the prompt for the letter, you will also be furnished with additional details such as case notes and other pertinent documentation. With tips and an OET writing sample, you will be able to prepare for the OET Exam and gain an understanding of how to approach the writing test.

Overview of OET Writing

The OET Writing task for nurses includes an individual, professional-specific situation in which you are provided with case notes, and you must draft a formal letter. This is typically a referral or discharge letter to one of your colleagues in the healthcare team. The table below suggests the key aspects related to the module, along with the assessment criteria which will help you as you practice OET Writing.

Guidelines for in OET Writing for Nurses

Success in the OET Letters is not just diving into the OET Writing Samples for Nurses and getting familiar with the format. Rather, it requires you to demonstrate professional accuracy, clarity, and relevance. Therefore, you need to first understand the scenario, select the most relevant details, and convey them in a well-structured, concise, and professional manner. To do so, you must first focus on planning and then move on to the writing part.

1. Planning

Firstly, the letter-writing task has a time limit. It is recommended that you spend the first five minutes of this time thinking and making the necessary preparations for the task, and save the remaining forty minutes for accomplishing your writing. During the preparation time, here are the following suggestions to help you perform better:

• Pay attention when reading the prompt. Read it more than once if necessary. Glance through the case notes.
• Determine what aim the letter wants you to accomplish, i.e., whether it is a transfer or referral, or a discharge letter. This is usually apparent from the prompt itself or is otherwise inferred from the details provided alongside it.
• Note down the necessary information from the case notes, keeping in mind the purpose of the letter and the given prompt.
• Order the points selected and number them which will enable you to structure your letter.
• Use your discretion and carefully decide which points to include, bearing in mind the fact that not all the provided information will be required in your letter.
• Lastly, remember that you have to strictly maintain a word limit of 180 – 200 words, and this can only be possible if you include only the very relevant details.

2. Writing

Once you have spent the first few minutes adequately planning and structuring your letter, you can then proceed to actually draft the letter. We recommend the following:

• Start with a concise, lucid introduction that clearly delineates the purpose of the letter.
• Break your letter down into small paragraphs on the basis of the type and amount of information.
• Once you reach the ending, be sure to include a distinct conclusion, usually including a call to action, inviting the reader to respond.
• Although information may be provided to you in point format as case notes, you are required to write in complete sentences and paragraphs, following a clear structure.
• The use of any profession-specific vocabulary, including abbreviations, is permitted, bearing in mind the intended reader of the letter.

How to Practice Using OET Writing Samples for Nurses?

To effectively use the OET Writing Samples, you must utilize a few OET Writing Tips so that you develop the skills gradually. Remember that just looking at the sample answer might not be enough to understand how to practice OET writing. Therefore, the tips below can guide you through your preparation and help you score better.

• Firstly, you must be aware of the six assessment criteria based on which you will be marked. This will give you an idea of which skills or areas you need to focus on improving. 
• Always analyze the sample answers for the OET Writing module. Critically look at how the introduction sets the purpose, how the case notes are selected and grouped logically, and how the tone remains clinical and objective.
• Always try to attempt to answer yourself before you look at the sample answers provided. In this way, you will be able to point out the areas of improvement and work on your weaknesses.
• You can start underlining the key medical, personal, and social details that matter to the letter’s recipient. This will help in only looking at the relevant information.
• As there is a time limit, it is suggested to simulate the exam conditions so that you can build stamina while training yourself to organize your ideas quickly.
• Tone is very important as you need to maintain it in a professional manner instead of using casual language.
• Always keep some time to review your work and check if there is any repetition, or if the purpose is clear enough, and if there are any grammatical errors. Remember that the Use of Correct Tense in OET is crucial.
• Note the useful phrases from the OET Writing Samples for Nurses so that you can use those expressions and improve your style and fluency, which is vital for a Band B (350) or higher.

As there are different types of cases which you might encounter in the OET Writing module, you need to practice them individually. These practice sessions would help you to critically think and attempt the prompt appropriately. Let’s dive into the case notes.

Case Notes 1 from OET Writing Samples for Nurses

• Patient History:

Address: 75 Walden Road, Broadchurch

Phone: (+44) 070 4477 2674

Date of Birth: 21 May 2017

Gender: Male

Discharged: 12/06/22

Country of birth: Sudan

Diagnosis: Acute meningoencephalitis

• Social History:

Parents: Miri & Abdullah Obeki, refugees, arrived in the UK in 2019.

Employment: Abdullah: Golden Circle pineapple factory, shift worker

Miri: Housewife

Accommodation: Recently moved to rental accommodation.

GP: No family doctor

Sibling: 2 year old brother, Saeed

Languages: Dinka, Arabic

Interpreter needs: Abdullah understands spoken English but has limited written skills. Miri has limited understanding of English. Abdullah attends English classes.

• Medical History:

Parents state that both children had some kind of vaccination at birth but records have been lost since then. Parents unaware of vaccines for mumps.

• Discharge plan:

Appears to have fully recovered from mumps and acute meningoencephalitis.

Will need advice regarding recommended vaccines for both children.

Will need a neurological check-up.

Prompt

Sample Answer for Case Notes 1 from OET Writing Samples for Nurses

Case Notes 2 from OET Writing Samples for Nurses

• Patient Details:

Name: Lionel Ramamurthy (Mr)

Marital status: Widowed – spouse dec. 6 mths

Residence: Community Retirement Home, Newtown

Next of kin: Jake, engineer (37, married, 3 children <10)

Sean, teacher (30, married, working overseas, 1 infant)

Admission date: 04 Feb 2019

Discharge date: 11 Feb 2019

Diagnosis: Pneumonia

• Past medical history:

Osteoarthritis (mainly fingers) – Voltaren (diclofenac)

Eyesight ↓ due to cataracts removed 16 mths ago – needs check-up

• Social background:

Retired school teacher (history, maths). Financially independent. Lonely since wife died.

Weight loss approx. 4 kg in 6 months – associated with poor diet.

• Medical history: 

2007: Type 2 diabetes diagnosed (controlled by diet)

04 Mar 2018: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnosed

• Medical background:

Admitted with pneumonia – acute shortness of breath (SOB), inspiratory and expiratory wheezing, persistent cough (chest & abdominal pain), fever, rigors, sleeplessness, generalised ache. On admission – mobilising with pick-up frame, assist with ADLs

(e.g., showering, dressing, etc.), very weak, ambulating only short distances with increasing

shortness of breath on exertion (SOBOE).

• Medical progress:

Afebrile.

Inflammatory markers back to normal.

Slow but independent walk & shower/toilet.

Dry cough, some chest & abdom. pain.

Weight gain (1.5kg) post r/v by dietitian.

• Nursing management:

Encourage oral fluids, proper nutrition.

Ambulant as per physio r/v.

Encourage chest physio (deep breathing & coughing exercises).

Sitting preferred to lying down to ensure postural drainage.

• Assessment: 

Good progress overall

• Discharge plan: 

Paracetamol if necessary for chest/abdom. pain.

Keep warm.

Good nutrition – ↑ fluids, eggs, fruit, veg (needs help monitoring diet).

Prompt

Sample Answer for Case Notes 2 from OET Writing Samples for Nurses

Case Notes 3 from OET Writing Samples for Nurses

• Patient Details:

Name: Ms. Patricia Styles

DOB: 27 April 1957 (Age 62)

Address: 57, Market Drive, Newtown

• Social background:

Retired primary school teacher

Lives on her own

Husband died 3 yrs ago (lung cancer); no children

• Medical history: 

Hypertension (HT)

Diagnosed 2011 – mild 145/95

2013 – moderate 168/105, commenced quinapril

Regular monitoring, currently well managed at around 140/90

Diabetes mellitus (DM) Type 2

Diagnosed 2013 – Pt counselled re diet/lifestyle, incl. weight loss

2014 – commenced oral hypoglycaemics (metformin + gliclazide)

Well managed generally

Depression

Diagnosed June 2016

Triggered by death of husband

Regular counselling since July 2016 to control mood swings and support DM management

• Family medical history:

Mother – HT, DM

• Lifestyle: 

Smoking/Alcohol: Non-smoker; 1-2 glasses wine/wk

Exercise: Walks dog 20mins/day

Diet: Ongoing counselling re DM management to maintain balanced diet

• Medications: 

Quinapril (Accupril) oral 40mg/2xday

Metformin (Diabex) oral 500mg/2xday

Gliclazide (APO-Gliclazide MR) oral 30mg daily

• Green Valley Hospital Treatment Record:

23 Aug 2019

Pt visiting sister for weekend, sister lives 3hrs away from Newtown in Green Valley

Pt admitted to Green Valley Hospital late evening with fever, sharp & pleuritic chest pain (worse on breathing), general weakness & malaise, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)

24 Aug 2019

Assessment: Vital signs RR 29; BP 170/106; HR 98; T 39.3ºC

Full blood examination (FBE): ↑ ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), ↑ CRP (C-reactive

protein), ↑ WCC (white cell count) i.e. inflammation/stress

Throat swab: viral influenza type B

Chest X-ray (CXR) – normal

Echocardiogram – pericarditis

Management: 

IV saline

Ibuprofen 600mg every 8hrs

Evaluation : 

Viral influenza type B plus pericarditis

25 Aug 2019

Pt discharged and advised on self-care at home

Niece drove Pt home & agreed to stay overnight for 3 nights

Follow-up Nurse Home Visit arranged for 30 Aug 2019

• Nurse Home Visit – 30 Aug 2019:

Observations: 

Pt unhappy. Reports feeling chest pain (relieved by sitting up), shortness of breath (SOB), fatigue. Frustrated with progress of recovery

Medication adherence – reports compliance & regular blood glucose monitoring

Vital signs: low-grade fever: T 38.1°C. Elevated RR 28 & HR 115

BP: 125/78 (usual BP 140/90)

Niece no longer staying overnight – work commitments in Green Valley

Assessment: 

Pt unwell. Nil improvement

?relapse/complications of pericarditis

Plan: Organise urgent hospital transfer to Newtown Hospital (nearest hospital)

Write referral to Emergency Department, include relevant:

• Medications
• Patient history
• Test results/observations

Prompt

Sample Answer for Case Notes 3 from OET Writing Samples for Nurses

With the right structure, focused strategies, and practice sessions using the OET Writing Samples for Nurses, you will be able to enhance your writing skills. Remember that the writing module would assess your ability to communicate in a clinical environment for which you need to meet professional standards. By analyzing the sample answers along with simulating the test conditions, you will build confidence to write without hesitation, especially on the exam day. 

Also Check:

• How to prepare for OET in 30 days
• A Comprehensive Guide to OET for Nurses for your Success
• Nursing Referral Letter OET Writing Sample: Know Your Way To Success
• OET Score Calculation