OET Writing practice · Nursing
Child asthma discharge advice – letter to parent
An original practice task written by LetterScore AI. Read the case notes in 5 minutes, then write your letter of advice 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: 13/09/2026 Patient: Mateo Santos, DOB 04/03/2018 (8 yrs) Children's Ward, Riverbend Hospital, Riverbend Admission date: 10/09/2026 Discharge date: 13/09/2026 Social background: - Lives with mother (Maricel, 36, aged-care worker, shift work), father (Joel, 38, builder) and sister (Isla, 3) - Family moved from the Philippines 2021 - Father smokes outside, on balcony next to Mateo's bedroom window - Pet cat (acquired June 2026) - Year 3, Hillcrest Primary School. Plays football twice a week - Grandmother cares for children when mother on night shift; limited English Medical history: - Asthma dx age 5; previously mild, reliever only - 2 ED visits for wheeze in past 6 months (April, July 2026). Preventer prescribed July 2026; mother reports it was "used only when coughing" - Eczema both elbows - Tonsillectomy 2023 - Immunisations up to date - NKDA Nursing management and progress: 10/09 Presented to ED with mother: 1 day cough and wheeze after a cold; unable to speak in full sentences. RR 36, SpO2 91% on air, HR 138 - Salbutamol via spacer × 3, ipratropium, oral prednisolone. Admitted, O2 via nasal prongs - Mother reports reliever used 8–10 times/day for 3 days before presentation 11/09 O2 ceased. Salbutamol weaned to 3-hrly. Eating and drinking well - Mother did not know preventer must be taken every day, even when well 12/09 Salbutamol 4-hrly. Spacer technique: breathing too fast, not shaking inhaler - Education to father and Mateo: preventer vs reliever, spacer technique (shake, 6 slow breaths), written asthma action plan 13/09 No wheeze. Spacer technique good when supervised - Mother asks if Mateo can play football match Saturday 19/09; doctor: can return to sport when he has no symptoms - Eczema flare → hydrocortisone 1% cream BD - Sister had a cold last week - Father collected Mateo; mother at work and unable to attend discharge teaching, requested written advice Medications on discharge: - Fluticasone 125 mcg (preventer, orange inhaler) 2 puffs BD via spacer, every day - Salbutamol 100 mcg (reliever, blue inhaler) 6 puffs via spacer every 4 hrs until bedtime 13/09, then as needed per action plan - Prednisolone 20 mg daily, last dose 14/09 - Hydrocortisone 1% cream BD to elbows Discharge plan: - Follow written asthma action plan - Call ambulance if: reliever needed more often than every 3 hrs, difficulty speaking, blue lips, ribs sucking in with breathing - GP review within 1 week (Dr Amelia Clarke) - Give school a copy of action plan plus reliever and spacer - Reduce triggers: colds, cigarette smoke, possibly cat - Paediatric asthma clinic in 6 weeks Writing Task: Using the information in the case notes, write a letter to Mrs Maricel Santos, 14 Wattle Street, Riverbend, Mateo's mother, who was unable to attend the discharge teaching and has asked for written advice on caring for Mateo at home. 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 letter of advice
- Check who the reader is: a parent or carer needs plain language without abbreviations; a colleague such as a school nurse needs practical instructions.
- Open with the purpose, then give the advice in an order the reader can follow.
- Include what to do if things go wrong and who to contact.
Members also get the model answer, the note-selection table and task-specific tips for this task.