OET Writing practice · Nursing
Partial-thickness burns to hand and forearm – practice nurse
An original practice task written by LetterScore AI. Read the case notes in 5 minutes, then write your discharge 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: 10/09/2026 Patient: Mr Tevita Fifita, DOB 21/01/1992 (34 yrs) Burns Unit, Ward 12, Royal Pemberton Hospital, Pemberton Admission date: 07/09/2026 Discharge date: 10/09/2026 Social background: - Chef at hotel restaurant; right-handed. Fit note for 2 wks provided - Lives with partner (Mele) and 2 children (3 yrs, 1 yr) - Smokes 10 cigarettes/day - Plays rugby at weekends - Recently moved to area; registered with Pemberton Health Centre 09/2026 Medical history: - Appendicectomy 2015 - Hay fever, cetirizine PRN - NKDA - Last tetanus immunisation >10 yrs ago Nursing management and progress: 07/09 Approx. 18:00 hot cooking oil spilt on R hand at work. Colleague cooled burn under running water for 20 min - ED: superficial partial-thickness burns to dorsum of R hand and distal R forearm, approx. 2% TBSA; deep partial-thickness area 2 × 3 cm over R wrist. Fingers and palm spared - Pain 8/10 → IV morphine. Tetanus booster given - Transferred to Burns Unit for analgesia and elevation 08/09 Wounds cleaned; blisters deroofed. Dressing: silicone contact layer + silver alginate + gauze + light crepe bandage. Wound swab taken - Hand elevated in sling; moderate oedema 09/09 OT review: hand exercises 2-hrly to prevent stiffness. Full finger movement; wrist extension limited by pain - Pain 3/10 on paracetamol 1 g QID + ibuprofen 400 mg TDS - Swab: no growth 10/09 Dressing change: wound bed pink and moist, minimal exudate, no signs of infection. Wrist area healing more slowly. Oedema reduced. T 36.8°C - Pt asking when he can return to kitchen work and rugby - Pt interested in stopping smoking; would like nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) Discharge plan: - Dressing change every 3 days at practice nurse (first 13/09): silicone contact layer + silver alginate, gauze, light crepe bandage - Monitor for infection: spreading redness, increasing pain, increased exudate, odour, fever - If wrist area not healed by 21/09 (day 14) → refer back to burns clinic (risk of hypertrophic scarring, possible grafting) - Continue OT hand exercises and elevation - Analgesia: paracetamol and ibuprofen regularly - Smoking cessation support and NRT (smoking delays wound healing) - Once healed: moisturise twice daily, sun protection, no rugby until healed - Burns outpatient clinic 24/09/2026 Writing Task: Using the information in the case notes, write a letter to Ms Joanna Whitfield, Practice Nurse, Pemberton Health Centre, 17 Castle Street, Pemberton, who will be managing Mr Fifita's dressings after discharge. 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 discharge letter
- The reader takes over care after discharge. Open with who the patient is, why they were in hospital and that they are going home, then say what you need the reader to do.
- Give the current condition, medication changes and the follow-up plan. Summarise the hospital stay instead of retelling it day by day.
- Leave out resolved problems and background that does not change care at home.
Members also get the model answer, the note-selection table and task-specific tips for this task.