OCCUPATIONAL ENGLISH TEST
WRITING SUB-TEST: Nursing
TIME ALLOWED: READING TIME: 5 MINUTES | WRITING TIME: 40 MINUTES

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

NOTES

You are the Charge Nurse on duty at the Children’s Hospital. You have been caring for this patient, Ann, an infant.

Patient Details

Name: Ann Ballard Age: 22 months
Next of Kin: Christine Ballard (mother)
Admission date: 16 March 2010
Discharge date: 22 March 2010

Diagnosis

2nd degree burns to right trunk & arm following accidental scalding with hot water
Family: Lives with mother and 4yr old brother (Tom)

Background

Mother (28 yrs) separated from husband 4 mths ago
Financial difficulties following separation
Housing: 3 bedroomed house in new housing development
Family reliant on public transport
Socially isolated (Christine’s parents interstate, has few friends) Christine ?depressed
Children spend alternate weekends with father Medical history and medications:
Nil medications
Nil significant history
No known allergies

Management and progress during hospital stay

2 x daily Silvazine dressings to affected area
IV fluids for 24 hrs post admission and then oral fluids
Mother referred to hospital social worker
Medications: Prophylactic antibiotic cover & analgesia

Discharge Plan

Daily Silvazine dressings
No discharge medications
Monitor mother’s mental state
Introduce to local supports (e.g., mothers’ group/activities, local childcare centre, etc.)
Appointment with local financial counsellor (for financial problems) WRITING TASK
Using the information given in the case notes, as the Charge Nurse on duty, write a letter to the family’s local maternal and child health nurse, outlining relevant information and requesting follow-up on discharge. Address the letter to Greenville Maternal and Child Health Centre, Main Rd, Greenville.

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.