OCCUPATIONAL ENGLISH TEST

WRITING SUB-TEST: NURSING

Time allowed
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Writing Time: 40 minutes

Today’s Date: 05/05/2017

Patient Details
Name: Joe Black
DOB: 01/05/1990

You are the nurse in charge of the rehabilitation ward at Pindara Private Hospital. Joe
Black has been transferred to your ward from the Gold Coast University Hospital.

Medical History
#L wrist- 7 yrs old
Anaphylactic allergy to penicillin & Endone

Social History
Lives with parents & younger sister (15yrs old).
Full-time tertiary student. 3rd yr Bachelor of Law at Queensland University of Technology.
Family live in two-story house on a fairly steep hill and there are 5 steps at front
entrance.
Motorbike- used to be his daily transport to university & other social activities
Hobbies: riding his horse & surfing weekly. Dirt bike riding- occasionally

Current Admission
10/03/2017
- BIBA Emergency Department, Gold Coast University Hospital
following a motorbike accident on the highway on his way back home from
university
- X-ray & CT scans completed- multiple fractures to upper & lower limbs:
#L hip
#ribs
#R arm- placed in fiberglass cast
-Injury to spinal cord: #T1-T8
- Emergency surgical treatment: THR for his hip & surgical spinal intervention
in order to stabilise the injury.
- Diagnosed with permanent paraplegia due to nerve damage in thoracic
vertebraes.

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11/03/17
-Transferred to orthopedic surgical ward for further investigation,
postoperative treatment & recovery
- Permanent super-pubic catheter inserted due to loss of bladder muscle
control due to spinal injury.

15/04/2017
- Transferred to Pindara Private Hospital for further rehabilitation therapy
- Physiotherapy rehabilitation for regaining muscle strength. Learning to
cope with his new restricted mobility condition & avoiding lower limb
muscle dystrophy

01/05/2017 - Start mobilizing wheelchair. Regained full strength & utility of arms and
upper body muscles.
- Pt worried to return home due to the house setting. Discussed the help of
occupational therapist (OT) further rehabilitation & assessment.
- Discharge date planned: 15/05/2017

Discharge Plan
- OT referral for:- pt’s disability assessment & further rehabilitation to
help him regain as much independency as possible with ADLs. Ensure he
has necessary aids to provide support with mobility & ADLs.
- House assessment- modifications to be suitable for wheelchair – such as
ramp over stairs, double doors. Modifications made to the bathroom-
toilet disability rails, commode showering chair.
- Daily home visits for the first 2 weeks teach & support him to adapt to
the new modification made.
Regular physiotherapy sessions- to avoid muscle dystrophy in lower limbs
Regular GP’s appointments- to check the super-pubic catheter.

Writing Task
You are the nurse in charge of the rehabilitation ward at Pindara Private Hospital. Using
the information provided, write a referral letter to Anne-Marie Johnson, the
occupational therapist in charge for the rehabilitation patients in Pindara Private
Hospital, 1182 Bermuda Street, Southport, QLD 4220 requesting assessment of Joe’s
disability level, as well as necessary aids, support & therapy in order to help him to
adapt & regain independency to live a life as close as possible to normal.

In your answer
· Expand the relevant case notes into complete sentences
· Do not use note form
· Use correct letter format
· The body of your letter should be approximately 180 – 200 words