OET 2.

0 PRACTICE
TESTS
NURSING - SPEAKING

HP
Practice
Test 1.

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 OET Speaking Role-play
EXAMINER CARD NO. 1 | NURSING
SETTING Hospital Casualty Ward

PATIENT You are in hospital following a road accident. You are not seriously injured
but have lost blood and have been told that you need a blood transfusion.
You have no idea what the procedure will involve. You are anxious about
the procedure and the danger of receiving infected blood. You have read
that patients have contracted HIV through blood transfusions.

TASK  Seek an explanation from the nurse about the procedure and the
risks involved. Express your fear of contracting HIV.

 You are anxious and upset. Respond to the nurse’s reassurances

accordingly.

 Eventually agree to have the transfusion.

OET Speaking Role-play

CANDIDATE CARD NO. 1 | NURSING
SETTING Hospital Casualty Ward

PATIENT The patient is in hospital following a road accident. The patient’s

condition is stable, but he/she has lost blood and needs a blood
transfusion. The patient does not understand what will happen. The
patient is anxious about the procedure and the danger of receiving
infected blood, and for example, contracting HIV.

TASK  Explain the procedure for a blood transfusion (e.g., sterile

conditions, new syringes, nurses watch closely, etc.).

 Reassure the patient that the possibility of infection is very small

(as care is taken to screen donors and test donated blood for
possible infection).

 Stress that the patient really needs the transfusion in order to

recover fully.

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 OET Speaking Role-play
EXAMINER CARD NO. 2 | NURSING
SETTING Community Health Centre

PATIENT Your six year-old son has just cut his finger on his right hand with a
kitchen knife that was left on the kitchen bench. The finger won’t stop
bleeding, and you are panicking about it. Your child is afraid of doctors
and you have to weigh this consideration against your concern about his
finger. You are also worried about possible scarring.

TASK  Outline what happened. Explained that the cut looks deep to
you, your child is in pain and you are very worried. Shouldn’t
your son have stiches?

 Covey your anxiety and uncertainty to the nurse. Ask how long
the finger will take to heal and if it will scar. Ask when your son,
who is right-handed, will be able to use this hand properly again.

 Ask the nurse what to do about your son’s finger.

 If the question of your responsibility for the injury comes up, be

defensive. You’re a busy person and can’t spend every minute of
your day watching him.

OET Speaking Role-play

CANDIDATE CARD NO. 2 | NURSING
SETTING Community Health Centre

PATIENT A parent’s six-year-old son has cut his finger, which is bleeding freely.
You examine the cut, which is not too serious, and you don’t think he
needs stiches.

TASK  Find out how the cut happened.

 Reassure the parent. Answer his/her questions about length of

time for healing, scarring, whether stiches are necessary, etc.

 Explain how to clean, apply antiseptic, and dress the cut

suitably. Point out the need to keep the finger clean and dry.

 Tactfully warn the parent about keeping sharp objects out of

reach of children.

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Practice
Test 2.

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 OET Speaking Role-play
EXAMINER CARD NO. 1 | NURSING
SETTING Community Health Centre

PATIENT You are visiting your local health centre to obtain information about your
mother’s most recent health report. Your mother is now eighty years old
and is becoming somewhat vague. She is very independent person and
does not like your interfering in her personal affairs. However, she told
you recently that when she had her three-monthly check-up, the doctor
said her cholesterol level was fairly high. The purpose of your visit is to
learn more about cholesterol and how best to reduce it.

TASK  Find out what cholesterol is.

 Ask what the doctor meant by a fairly high level of cholesterol.
 Ask what the nurse considers your mother’s cholesterol level
should be.
 Ask for advice about what your mother should do to lower her
cholesterol level.

OET Speaking Role-play

CANDIDATE CARD NO. 1 | NURSING
SETTING Hospital Casualty Ward

PATIENT The son/daughter of an eighty-year-old woman has come to ask for

information about cholesterol. He/she wants information about his/her
mother’s current cholesterol level and how best to reduce it.

TASK  Be prepared to inform the visitor about what cholesterol is (fat-

like material present in the blood and most tissues) and about the
types of cholesterol (high density lipoproteins (HDL) – good, low
density lipoproteins (LDL) – bad).
 Explain that if the fatty deposits are lodged in the arteries, this can
lead to heart disease or stroke.
 Explain what the doctor meant by a fairly high level of cholesterol
(i.e., elevated about 5.5 mmols/litre in the blood).
 Advise your visitor how his/her mother can best deal with her
cholesterol (e.g., avoid saturated fats and eat more fibre, etc.).

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 OET Speaking Role-play
EXAMINER CARD NO. 2 | NURSING
SETTING Emergency Department, Local Hospital

PATIENT You are 35. You were involved in a car accident earlier today and are
suffering from whiplash and a headache. You are feeling sorry for
yourself and are impatient to be better.

TASK  Ask why you have been kept in hospital for so long, given there
are no signs of broken bones, cuts or bruises.
 Ask why you are being given medication.
 Ask if physiotherapy would help and ask about the length of
treatment. How long before you are better?
 Ask if there is anything else you need to know. Stress that you
want to get completely better in as short a time as possible.
 Ask if there could be ‘after effects’ or on-going or on-going
problems as a result of your accident.

OET Speaking Role-play

CANDIDATE CARD NO. 2 | NURSING
SETTING Emergency Department, Local Hospital

PATIENT This 35-year-old patient was involved in a car accident earlier today and
is now suffering from a headache and whiplash (an injury to the cervical
spine). He/she is being kept in the hospital for observation but is
expected to be discharged later in the day.

TASK  Explain to the patient why he/she is being kept in the hospital.
 Advise the patient on the reason for taking and continuing to
take medication, and ways of managing the pain once he/she
returns home (e.g., with head/ice, analgesics, a collar etc.).
 Discuss the benefits of consulting a physiotherapist about
exercise and relaxation exercises to loosen up the joints.
 Explain that you cannot be sure how long the patient will take to
recover fully.
 Stress the importance of the treatment and exercise program.
 Stress the importance of seeking medical advice if there is any
increased pain or discomfort, nausea, vomiting, or vision
problems.

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 OET Speaking Role-play

Practice
Test 3.

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 OET Speaking Role-play
EXAMINER CARD NO. 1 | NURSING
SETTING Hospital Ward

PATIENT Last night, following an acute attack of asthma, your family brought you
into the emergency department of your local hospital for treatment. You
have never had an asthma attack prior to this one. Currently you are
being held in the hospital for observation purposes. You anticipate that
you will be discharged within 2-3 hours and you suddenly realise not only
that you have had a fright, but that you know little about asthma, e.g.,
what causes it, how it is treated, and possible long-term effects.

TASK  Express concern about your condition.

 Find out about asthma, its causes and how it can be treated. You
have heard stories about people dying from asthma attacks.
 Be anxious about the proposal to use a Ventolin inhaler – people
have told you about its misuse.
 Ask about your long-term prospects now that you have had an
asthma attack and been held in hospital overnight for observation.

OET Speaking Role-play

CANDIDATE CARD NO. 1 | NURSING
SETTING Hospital Ward

PATIENT This patient was brought into the emergency department of your hospital
late last night suffering from an acute asthma attack. He/she is currently
being held for observation. The patient has had a fright and is very
concerned about his/her condition.

TASK  Explain what asthma is (e.g., a chronic disease of the airways, etc.)
 Discuss the causes, such as environmental factors and an inherited
predisposition.
 Explain the treatment, for example, a Ventolin (salbutamol)
inhaler, and how to use such an inhaler.
 Discuss the prognosis for asthma patients.
 Deal with the patient’s anxiety about the problem, emphasising
that asthma can be controlled.

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 OET Speaking Role-play
EXAMINER CARD NO. 2 | NURSING
SETTING Reception Centre at a Public Hospital

PATIENT You are visiting a nearby public hospital with your 81-year old father. Your
father has recently been diagnosed as suffering from kidney failure.
Consequently, he is to undergo a tri-weekly dialysis program. Today is ‘day
one’ of your father’s dialysis treatment, and while you are waiting for him to
have his personal details taken by the charge nurse, you decide to ask
another nurse, who is on the reception deck, for information about your
father’s medical condition and the proposed treatment.

TASK  Briefly explain the reason for your visit to the hospital.
 Ask the nurse for some detailed information about your father’s
condition. What does kidney failure really mean?
 You would like to know more about dialysis. What is it exactly? Why
does your father have to come three times a week?
 Ask if the dialysis will improve your father’s condition.
 Ask if the dialysis treatment is painful and if there are any side
effects.
 Explain that your father is 81 years old and then ask what could
happen were he to decide not to continue his treatment.

OET Speaking Role-play

CANDIDATE CARD NO. 2 | NURSING
SETTING Reception Centre at a Public Hospital

PATIENT You are working at the reception deck of a public hospital. The son/daughter
of an 81-year-old man, who has recently been diagnosed as suffering from
kidney failure and who is to undergo a tri-weekly dialysis program, has
approached you to ask questions about his/her father’s medical condition and
proposed treatment.

TASK  Explain what kidney failure is. Explain that the kidneys are no longer
working, and what this means.
 Describe what dialysis is (e.g., machine which cleans the blood, etc.)
 Explain why his/her father’s treatment is to happen three times a
week.
 Explain that his/her father’s medical is unlikely to improve (i.e., it is
very unlikely his kidneys will start working again).
 Give details about whether the treatment is painful or has any side
effects (fatigue, low blood pressure, muscle cramps, etc.
 Warn what could happen if dialysis treatment does not continue.

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Practice
Test 4.

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 OET Speaking Role-play
EXAMINER CARD NO. 1 | NURSING
SETTING Home Visit

PATIENT You have been diabetic for a number of years and have managed your
diabetes with diet and tablets. However, your doctor wants you to start
having insulin injections and has asked the district nurse to visit you at
home to teach you how to give yourself these injections. You don’t really
understand why you have to have insulin injections. Also, you are very
nervous about the procedure of injecting yourself.

TASK  When asked by the nurse, stress that you feel you have been
managing your diabetes well and don’t want to commence insulin
injections. Ask if there is another way to manage your diabetes.
 When the nurse is explaining the procedure for giving the insulin
injections, show that you are anxious about it.
.

OET Speaking Role-play

CANDIDATE CARD NO. 1 | NURSING
SETTING Home Visit

PATIENT A general practitioner has asked you to visit a patient who has diabetes.
Until recently the diabetes has been moderately well controlled by diet
and oral medication. However, recently the patient’s blood sugars have
been high and the doctor has decided to commence insulin injections. The
doctor wants you to show the patient how to give himself/herself the
insulin injections.

TASK  Find out how the patient feels about insulin injections.
 Explain slowly and clearly the whole process of giving the injection
(including using clean needles, administering the injection, sits for
injection etc.).
 Try to reassure the patient that he/she will be able to manage the
injections.
 Emphasise the importance of safe needle disposal (suitable
containers, proper care and handling).

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 OET Speaking Role-play
EXAMINER CARD NO. 2 | NURSING
SETTING Children’s Hospital

PATIENT Your three-year-old has been brought to hospital suffering from chest
tightness, wheezing and difficulty breathing. You are extremely anxious as
you fear your child has asthma. You have been waiting to see a doctor. A
nurse is asking you questions about your child and you become agitated as
all you want is a doctor to see your child immediately.

TASK  Complain to the nurse that you have been waiting for the past hour
and not seen a doctor.
 Briefly explain your child’s condition and that you are concerned your
child has asthma.
 Demand the nurse to tell you if your child is suffering from asthma.
 Agitatedly tell the nurse you want the doctor to see your child
immediately.
 Reluctantly agree to allow the nurse to take observations of your
child.

OET Speaking Role-play

CANDIDATE CARD NO. 2 | NURSING
SETTING Children’s Hospital

PATIENT A three-year-old child has been brought to hospital suffering from chest
tightness, wheezing and dyspnoea. You suspect the child has asthma. The
parent is anxious and becomes agitated whilst the child is waiting to see a
doctor. You are the nurse taking the child’s vital signs.

TASK  Explain to the parent that the emergency department has been busy
and as soon as a doctor becomes available he/she will be over to see
the child.
 Ask the parent to briefly explain his/her condition.
 Explain what the doctor will do (e.g. provide a diagnosis after a
thorough medical assessment, etc.).
 Reassure the parent that you are doing everything possible to take
care of the child who is stable. A doctor will attend shortly.
 Encourage the parent to relax and to allow you to attend to the child.
 Explain that you need to continue taking the child’s vital signs.

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