As an expert in the field of Occupational English Test (OET) preparation, I understand the critical role that the writing sub-test plays in helping nurses achieve their professional goals in English-speaking healthcare environments. 

The OET writing task for nurses requires crafting a professional letter, typically a referral, discharge, or transfer letter, that adheres to strict guidelines while demonstrating clinical accuracy, clarity, and conciseness. 

This article, tailored for OETpro.com, provides a comprehensive guide to mastering OET writing sample letters for nurses, incorporating the latest expectations as of August 2025, and includes detailed examples to support your preparation.

Understanding the OET Writing Task for Nurses

The OET writing sub-test for nurses is a 45-minute task where candidates must write a professional letter (180–200 words) based on a set of case notes. The letter is typically addressed to another healthcare professional, such as a doctor, specialist, or community nurse. It serves purposes like referring a patient, transferring care, or providing a discharge summary. The task assesses your ability to:

• Select relevant information: Extract and prioritize key details from case notes.

• Organize content logically: Structure the letter clearly with an appropriate tone.

• Use professional language: Employ medical terminology accurately while maintaining clarity for the recipient.

• Adhere to the purpose: Ensure the letter’s intent (e.g., referral, discharge) is clear and concise.

The scoring criteria, updated in 2025, emphasize Purpose, Content, conciseness, clarity, Genre and Style, Organization, layout, and language. Nurses must strike a balance between clinical precision and accessibility, avoiding overly technical jargon when writing for non-specialists.

Key Components of an Effective OET Letter

To excel in the OET writing task, nurses must master the following components, which are critical for achieving a high score:

1. Clear Purpose: The letter’s purpose must be evident from the opening sentence. For example, a referral letter should clearly state the reason for referral and the level of urgency.

2. Logical Structure: A standard letter includes:

• Date and Address: Formal date format (e.g., 4 August 2025) and recipient’s details.

• Salutation: Use “Dear Dr. Smith” or “Dear Community Nurse” as appropriate.

• Introduction: State the purpose and briefly introduce the patient.

• Body Paragraphs: Present relevant medical history, current condition, and care requirements logically.

• Closing: Specify the action required (e.g., further assessment, ongoing care) and offer further contact.

• Sign-off: Use “Yours sincerely” (if the recipient’s name is known) or “Yours faithfully” (if not), followed by your name and title.

3. Concise: Include only relevant details from the case notes, avoiding unnecessary repetition.

4. Professional Tone: Maintain a formal yet empathetic tone that reflects a nurse’s professional demeanour.

5. Accurate Language: Use correct grammar, punctuation, and medical terminology, tailored to the recipient’s expertise.

Latest Updates to OET Writing (2025)

As of August 2025, the OET writing sub-test has introduced subtle refinements to align with evolving standards in healthcare communication. These include:

• Increased Focus on Concise: Assessors now place greater emphasis on eliminating redundant information to ensure the letter stays within the 180–200-word limit.

• Recipient-Specific Language: Nurses must adjust their language according to whether the recipient is a specialist (e.g., a cardiologist) or a generalist (e.g., a community nurse). For example, writing to a cardiologist may include technical terms like “myocardial infarction,” while a community nurse requires simpler terms like “heart attack.”

• Cultural Sensitivity: Letters must reflect an awareness of culturally appropriate communication, especially when addressing diverse patient needs or involving family members.

• Digital Integration: As healthcare becomes increasingly digitized, letters may include references to telehealth consultations or electronic health records, reflecting current real-world practices.

OETpro.com emphasizes these updates in its preparation materials, offering practice case notes that reflect current healthcare scenarios, such as post-COVID care or mental health referrals.

Step-by-Step Approach to Writing an OET Letter

To craft a high-scoring OET letter, follow this structured approach:

1. Analyze the Case Notes: Carefully read the case notes, underlining key details such as the patient’s condition, medical history, and the purpose of the letter.

2. Identify the Recipient and Purpose: Determine whether the letter is a referral, discharge, or transfer, and tailor the content to the recipient’s role.

3. Plan the Structure: Outline the introduction, body paragraphs, and closing to ensure logical flow.

4. Write Concisely: Select only the most relevant details, avoiding minor or irrelevant information.

5. Review and Edit: Check for grammar, spelling, and clarity to ensure the letter meets the word count and tone requirements.

Sample OET Writing Letters for Nurses

Below are two detailed sample letters, crafted to reflect the expectations of the OET writing task for nurses. These examples demonstrate how to apply the principles discussed above, using realistic case notes and adhering to the 2025 guidelines.

Sample Letter 1: Referral Letter

Case Notes:

• Patient: Mr. John Carter, 55 years old

• Diagnosis: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (diagnosed 2018), recent episodes of hypoglycemia

• Medical History: Hypertension (on lisinopril 10 mg daily), obesity (BMI 32)

• Current Issue: Uncontrolled blood glucose levels, recent hypoglycemic episode (blood glucose 3.2 mmol/L)

• Management: Adjusted insulin dose, dietary counselling advised

• Recipient: Dr. Emily Watson, Endocrinologist

• Purpose: Refer for specialist management of diabetes

Letter:

4 August 2025
Dr. Emily Watson
Endocrinology Department
City Hospital
123 Health Road
Springfield

Dear Dr. Watson,

I am writing to refer Mr. John Carter, a 55-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus, for your specialist management due to recent difficulties in controlling his blood glucose levels.

Mr. Carter was diagnosed with diabetes in 2018 and has been managed with insulin therapy. He also has hypertension, controlled with lisinopril 10 mg daily, and obesity (BMI 32). Over the past month, he has experienced recurrent hypoglycemic episodes, with a recent blood glucose reading of 3.2 mmol/L. His insulin dose was adjusted last week, and dietary counselling has been advised to address his weight and glucose control. However, his condition remains unstable.

I would appreciate your assessment of Mr. Carter’s diabetes management and recommendations for optimizing his treatment plan. Please contact me at 555-1234 if you require any additional information.

Yours sincerely,
Sarah Johnson
Registered Nurse

Analysis: This letter clearly states the purpose (referral for diabetes management), includes relevant medical history (diabetes, hypertension, obesity), and specifies the current issue (hypoglycemia). The tone is professional, and the language is tailored to a specialist recipient. The word count is concise, fitting within the 180–200-word range.

Sample Letter 2: Discharge Letter

Case Notes:

• Patient: Mrs. Linda Thompson, 72 years old

• Diagnosis: Community-acquired pneumonia, resolved

• Medical History: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), uses salbutamol inhaler PRN

• Hospital Stay: Admitted 28 July 2025, treated with antibiotics (amoxicillin 500 mg TDS) and oxygen therapy

• Current Condition: Afebrile, oxygen saturation 96% on room air, respiratory rate 18/min

• Recipient: Community Nursing Service

• Purpose: Discharge for ongoing monitoring and support

Letter:

4 August 2025
Community Nursing Service
Springfield Community Health Centre
456 Wellness Avenue
Springfield

Dear Community Nurse,

I am writing to inform you of the discharge of Mrs. Linda Thompson, a 72-year-old patient, from City Hospital on 4 August 2025, following treatment for community-acquired pneumonia.

Mrs. Thompson has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, managed with a salbutamol inhaler as needed. She was admitted on 28 July 2025 with pneumonia and treated with amoxicillin 500 mg three times daily and oxygen therapy. Her condition has improved significantly; she is now afebrile, with an oxygen saturation of 96% on room air and a respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute.

Please monitor Mrs. Thompson’s respiratory status and ensure adherence to her COPD management plan. She has been advised to continue using her inhaler and to seek medical attention if symptoms worsen. For further information, please contact me at 555-5678.

Yours faithfully,
Emma Brown
Registered Nurse

Analysis: This discharge letter clearly outlines the patient’s condition, treatment, and ongoing care needs. The language is simplified for a community nurse, avoiding overly technical terms. The structure is logical, with an explicit request for monitoring, and the tone is professional yet accessible.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Based on feedback from OET assessors in 2025, nurses often make the following errors:

• Including Irrelevant Details: Adding minor details from case notes (e.g., unrelated past surgeries) wastes word count and dilutes the letter’s focus.

• Inappropriate Tone: Using overly casual language (e.g., “he’s feeling okay”) or excessive jargon for non-specialist recipients.

• Poor Organization: Failing to group related information (e.g., mixing medical history with current treatment).

• Exceeding Word Count: Writing overly long letters risks losing marks for conciseness.

• Grammatical Errors: Common issues include subject-verb agreement, incorrect use of prepositions, and inconsistent verb tenses.

OETpro.com offers targeted practice to address these pitfalls, with mock tests and feedback to refine your writing skills.

Tips for Success on OETpro.com

To excel in the OET writing task, leverage the resources on OETpro.com and adopt these strategies:

1. Practice with Realistic Case Notes: Utilize OETpro.com’s updated case notes, which reflect 2025 healthcare scenarios, including telehealth follow-ups and chronic disease management.

2. Time Management: Allocate 5 minutes to analyze case notes, 30 minutes to write, and 10 minutes to review.

3. Use Templates: Develop a mental template for each letter type (referral, discharge, transfer) to streamline your writing process.

4. Seek Feedback: Submit practice letters on OETpro.com for expert feedback on structure, language, and conciseness.

5. Expand Vocabulary: Learn synonyms for standard medical terms (e.g., “hypertension” vs. “high blood pressure”) to adapt to different recipients.

Mastering the OET writing task for nurses requires a blend of clinical knowledge, linguistic precision, and strategic preparation. By focusing on the latest 2025 guidelines—emphasizing conciseness, recipient-specific language, and cultural sensitivity—you can craft letters that meet the expectations of OET assessors. 

The sample letters provided above demonstrate how to apply these principles effectively, and OETpro.com offers the tools and practice you need to succeed. With dedication and targeted preparation, you can achieve the writing score required to advance your nursing career in an English-speaking healthcare environment.