OET Writing practice · Nursing
Total knee replacement – transfer to inpatient rehabilitation
An original practice task written by LetterScore AI. Read the case notes in 5 minutes, then write your transfer letter in 40 minutes, about 180–200 words in the body.
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Case notes
NURSING — WRITING TASK (practice) Time allowed: Reading time 5 minutes, Writing time 40 minutes Read the case notes below and complete the writing task which follows. Notes: Today's date: 09/09/2026 Patient: Mr Giovanni Russo, DOB 25/01/1957 (69 yrs) Orthopaedic Ward 2B, Bayside Private Hospital, Port Ellis Admission date: 04/09/2026 Transfer date: 09/09/2026 Social background: - Born in Naples, Italy. Retired chef, ran family restaurant - Lives with wife (Rosa, 67) in 2-storey townhouse, 14 internal stairs - Wife recovering from own shoulder surgery (July 2026), unable to help with lifting - Non-smoker. Wine with dinner (1–2 glasses/day) - Travelling to Italy for daughter's wedding, December 2026 - Grows tomatoes and herbs; plays bocce Medical history: - Severe osteoarthritis L knee; mild R knee - Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), uses CPAP nightly - Type 2 diabetes, metformin 1 g BD - Gastro-oesophageal reflux, pantoprazole 40 mg daily - Umbilical hernia repair 2010 - Allergy: codeine (vomiting) Nursing management and progress: 04/09 Elective L total knee replacement (TKR). Spinal anaesthetic + adductor canal block - Overnight: SpO2 88% while asleep without CPAP → CPAP applied, SpO2 95% 05/09 Pain 7/10 on movement → oxycodone increased. Knee flexion 45°. Mobilised with frame, assist of 1 06/09 BGLs 12–15 mmol/L; BGL QID. Mild nausea → ondansetron PRN - L calf mildly tender → Doppler ultrasound: no DVT 07/09 Knee flexion 70°. Walks 30 m with frame. Pain 4/10 with regular analgesia - Ice machine 20 mins after physio 08/09 Wound 15 cm, Aquacel dressing intact and dry; staples. Moderate knee swelling - BGLs 8–11 mmol/L - Pt frustrated with slow progress; worried about stairs at home and daughter's wedding - Constipation: BO after Coloxyl with senna 09/09 Knee flexion 75°. Stairs not yet attempted. Unable to manage stairs at home safely and wife cannot assist → transfer to inpatient rehabilitation Medications on transfer: - Paracetamol 1 g QID - Celecoxib 100 mg BD until 11/09 - Oxycodone controlled-release 10 mg BD; oxycodone immediate-release 5 mg 4-hrly PRN - Enoxaparin 40 mg SC daily until 02/10/2026 - Metformin 1 g BD; pantoprazole 40 mg daily - Coloxyl with senna 2 tabs nocte Transfer plan: - Physio BD: goals knee flexion ≥ 90° and safe stair climbing before discharge home - Analgesia 30–60 mins before physio; ice after - CPAP nightly (own machine brought in by wife) - BGL monitoring BD - Aquacel dressing to remain until day 7 (11/09); staple removal 18/09 - Orthopaedic review 16/10/2026 Writing Task: Using the information in the case notes, write a letter to Mr Samuel Adeyemi, Clinical Nurse Manager, Port Ellis Rehabilitation Centre, 9 Marina Drive, Port Ellis, who will be responsible for Mr Russo's care during his rehabilitation. 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.
How to approach this transfer letter
- The reader is about to receive the patient. Open with the transfer, the reason for it and when it happens.
- Focus on current condition, care needs, medications and anything still pending, so the receiving team can plan from day one.
- Hospital-stay detail matters only where it changes ongoing care.
Members also get the model answer, the note-selection table and task-specific tips for this task.