The candidate card
Setting
Emergency department
Candidate
You are a nurse in the emergency department. Ms Aroha Leota brought her 2-year-old son in by ambulance after he had a seizure at home lasting about two minutes. He has had a runny nose and cough for two days, and a fever since this morning. The doctor has examined him, diagnosed a simple febrile seizure caused by a viral infection, and says he can go home. He is now alert, drinking well and playing, but his mother is very anxious about taking him home.
Task (interlocutor: parent)
- Find out what Ms Leota understands about what happened and what is worrying her most
- Explain what a febrile seizure is and reassure her about brain damage and epilepsy
- Explain what to do if her son has another seizure, including when to get urgent help or call an ambulance
- Advise how to manage his fever at home (comfort, fluids, medicine for distress)
- Agree a discharge plan, including when to come back and follow-up with the GP
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.
How to approach this card
- Start with her, not the facts: ask what she saw and what frightens her most. Likely fears are that he nearly died, has brain damage or will keep having seizures. Naming the fear lets you answer it directly instead of giving a generic talk.
- Explain simply that the doctor found a simple febrile seizure with a viral infection, and he is now alert, drinking and playing. Simple febrile seizures are not usually linked to brain damage; epilepsy risk is only slightly higher, and another seizure is possible. Avoid promising nothing will happen.
- Seizure first aid: note the time, lay him on his side, clear hazards, put nothing in his mouth, don't restrain or give anything by mouth. Call 000 if it lasts 5 minutes or more, repeats, he is injured, struggles to breathe or isn't recovering.
- For the fever, put comfort and fluids first and dress him lightly. Explain that a medicine such as paracetamol is for distress, used as the label directs, and will not prevent another seizure, so she doesn't feel she failed if one recurs. Arrange GP follow-up.
- Agree a plan she can carry out tonight: who is with her, whether she has a phone, how she would get help. Use teach-back on first aid and 000. If time is short, prioritise her main fear, first aid with 000 criteria, then return advice.
Phrases to adapt
Use your own words; these show the register, not lines to memorise.
- That must have been terrifying to watch. Tell me what you saw.
- Seeing him play now is reassuring, but it's normal to still feel shaken.
- Can you tell me what you would do if it happened again tonight?
- Is there anything about going home that still worries you?
Medical words in plain English
| Term | How you might say it to the patient |
|---|---|
| febrile seizure | a fit triggered by a fever, here alongside a cold-type virus |
| epilepsy | a condition where someone has repeated seizures that are not brought on by fever |
| recovery position | lying him on his side so he can breathe and anything in his mouth can drain out |
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). Grade B usually means 5 on each language criterion and 2 on each clinical one. See the AI Speaking practice guide for what each criterion looks for.
More Nursing role-play cards
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All sets: nurses, doctors, other professions. Your profession's guide: OET Nursing.
Questions about this role-play
How do I answer if she asks whether he will get brain damage or epilepsy?
Say the doctor found the simple type, which is not usually linked to brain damage. His chance of epilepsy is only slightly higher than other children's. Another febrile seizure is possible with future fevers. Avoid words like never or definitely, as they can cost you her trust.
What return advice should I give her?
Cover all of these: return urgently if he is very drowsy or hard to wake, has a stiff neck, a rash that does not fade when pressed, difficulty breathing, repeated vomiting, refuses fluids or has another seizure. Call 000 using the first-aid criteria. She can also return whenever she is worried.
What if she says she is too frightened to take him home?
Acknowledge the fear and ask what would help her feel safe, such as support at home or a clear plan. Do not promise an overnight stay yourself. If she still feels unable to cope, tell the doctor so they can reassess the plan with her.
Sources
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