The candidate card
Setting
Discharge lounge
Candidate
In this original independent practice scenario, you are a nurse in a hospital discharge lounge speaking with Ms Similoluwa Oyaifo, aged 39. Her discharge record documents treatment for left lower-leg cellulitis with an oral antibiotic started three days ago, instructions to complete the prescribed course and a review appointment today. Her appointment confirmation and check-in record show that she attended on time, but a booking-system error marked her as absent; reception refused her review, and she has asked you for help because her leg is still painful. The duty clinician is available to reassess her today: your immediate plan is to assess her current condition and contact that clinician without waiting for the bookings team to correct the attendance record, escalating immediately through the hospital emergency response if she is acutely unwell.
Task (interlocutor: patient)
- Acknowledge her experience, apologise for the documented error and invite her account of what happened.
- Find out how her leg and general health have changed since treatment began, whether she has taken the antibiotic as prescribed and what is worrying her most.
- Explain why current clinical reassessment is needed and reassure her that correcting the booking record will not be a condition of receiving care.
- Explain how you will ask the bookings team to correct the inaccurate attendance entry and confirm the outcome with her, responding to any concerns about raising the error.
- Agree that she will stay for assessment and today's clinician review; explain that she should report any deterioration immediately, then check her understanding and invite questions.
In the test you get 3 minutes to read the card and plan, then about 5 minutes to talk. This card is original, written for this site; the interlocutor's card is not shown.
Prepare this card, then say it out loud.
Plan your opening and the tasks below. Keep these notes when you move to the AI role-play.
In this original independent practice scenario, you are a nurse in a hospital discharge lounge speaking with Ms Similoluwa Oyaifo, aged 39. Her discharge record documents treatment for left lower-leg cellulitis with an oral antibiotic started three days ago, instructions to complete the prescribed course and a review appointment today. Her appointment confirmation and check-in record show that she attended on time, but a booking-system error marked her as absent; reception refused her review, and she has asked you for help because her leg is still painful. The duty clinician is available to reassess her today: your immediate plan is to assess her current condition and contact that clinician without waiting for the bookings team to correct the attendance record, escalating immediately through the hospital emergency response if she is acutely unwell.
Getting your plan ready…
Preparation is free without an account. AI conversation and marking need sign-in; your first role-play is free. Notes are saved on this device when available. This checklist is your plan, not a score.
How to approach this card
- Begin with a direct apology for the documented error, then invite her account without requiring her to prove she attended. She may feel dismissed; ask which part of the experience has concerned her most.
- Move promptly from listening to assessing her leg, changes in general health and antibiotic use. Ask neutrally about taking the medicine as prescribed, allowing her to describe any difficulties without suggesting that she caused the continuing pain.
- Explain early that the duty clinician can reassess her today and that attendance correction will not delay care. Prioritise contacting that clinician over resolving the administrative dispute; activate the hospital emergency response immediately if she is acutely unwell.
- Once clinical arrangements are underway, explain the request to correct the inaccurate absence entry and confirm the outcome with her. Explore any hesitation about raising the error rather than assuming why she might be reluctant.
- Close by agreeing that she will stay for assessment and today's review, and ask her to report any deterioration immediately. If time is short, prioritise these arrangements, then ask her to explain her understanding and invite questions.
Model route: what a strong candidate might say
Example lines in a workable order for about 5 minutes: opening, key questions, the patient's concern, explaining, then the close. Use them to plan, not to memorise: the patient's replies are not scripted here, and your next line should follow what they actually say.
1. Opening
- “Hello Ms Oyaifo, I'm the nurse in the discharge lounge. I'm sorry you were refused your review. The record shows you attended on time, so this looks like a booking error.”
- “Could you tell me in your own words what happened at reception, and how your leg has been feeling?”
2. Key questions
- “How has your leg changed since you started the antibiotic three days ago, including the pain and how the skin looks?”
- “Apart from your leg, how have you been feeling generally in yourself?”
- “Have you been taking the antibiotic exactly as prescribed, or have any doses been missed?”
- “What is worrying you most at the moment?”
3. Handling the patient's concern
Likely concern: She may fear being turned away again, or that raising the booking error will affect her care.
- “That's completely understandable after what happened. Your care does not depend on the booking record being corrected. I'm going to contact the duty clinician now.”
- “Pointing out the error won't affect your treatment. I'll ask the bookings team to correct your attendance entry, and I'll tell you what happens.”
4. Explaining
- “Because your leg is still painful, I need to check how you are now so the duty clinician can reassess you today. I'll do that straight away. Does that make sense so far?”
- “I won't wait for the record to be fixed before arranging your review. Separately, I'll ask the bookings team to correct the entry and confirm the outcome with you.”
5. Closing
- “So you'll stay here while I assess you and contact the clinician for today's review. If you feel worse in any way, tell me or any staff member immediately.”
- “Could you tell me in your own words what happens next? And what questions would you like to ask me before the clinician sees you?”
Phrases to adapt
Use your own words; these show the register, not lines to memorise.
- You came for help and were turned away. I’m sorry that happened.
- What would you most like the clinician to address today?
- Let me explain what we know and what still needs checking.
- Is there anything you feel we have not heard properly?
Medical words in plain English
| Term | How you might say it to the patient |
|---|---|
| cellulitis | the skin infection in your left lower leg |
| oral antibiotic | antibiotic medicine taken by mouth |
| clinical reassessment | checking your condition again |
How this card is marked
Two assessors mark the recording on nine criteria: intelligibility, fluency, appropriateness of language and resources of grammar and expression (each 0–6), then relationship building, understanding and incorporating the patient's perspective, providing structure, information gathering and information giving (each 0–3). See the AI Speaking practice guide for what each criterion looks for.
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Questions about this role-play
Does pain after three days mean the antibiotic has failed?
The card does not establish treatment failure or recovery. Avoid predicting what her pain means or offering an expected recovery timeline. If she asks whether treatment is working, explain that this is a question for today's assessment, without presenting an unsupported conclusion.
Should I suggest changing or stopping her antibiotic?
Her discharge instructions say to complete the prescribed course. Keep your explanation consistent with that instruction and leave any treatment changes to the reviewing clinician. Do not invent an alternative antibiotic, dose or duration, or suggest taking extra medicine because her leg remains painful.
How should I answer if she asks who caused the booking error?
Distinguish the documented error from an explanation of its cause. You know that she attended on time and the system marked her absent; you do not know who caused this. Avoid blaming reception staff personally or promising disciplinary action or compensation.
What should I do if she looks acutely unwell during the conversation?
Stop the discussion, stay with her and activate the hospital emergency response immediately, as the plan states. Tell her calmly what you are doing. The explanation about the booking error can wait until she is safe and being treated.
How do I apologise without blaming reception or over-promising?
Apologise for the documented error and for her being refused, without naming or criticising colleagues. Say you will ask the bookings team to correct the entry and update her, but do not promise a timeframe. Promise only what you control: contacting the clinician now.
Sources
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