The candidate card
Setting
Home visit (community nursing)
Candidate
You are a community nurse visiting Mr Joel Quiambao, aged 74, at home. He is the main carer for his wife, aged 71, who has Parkinson's disease; her medication chart lists levodopa tablets four times a day at 8 a.m., 12 noon, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. She has had two near-falls this week, and the GP has asked you to review her medication routine and falls risk. Mr Quiambao is waiting for you in the kitchen while his wife rests.
Task (interlocutor: carer)
- Find out how Mr Quiambao manages his wife's medication routine and what happened during the near-falls (dose times, missed doses, late mornings, dizziness on standing)
- Explain why her Parkinson's tablets need to be given at her prescribed times (symptom control, possible link to near-falls, other possible causes)
- Reassure Mr Quiambao that he is not being criticised and acknowledge the care he provides
- Explain practical ways to reduce her risk of falling (home safety, getting up slowly, what to do if she falls)
- Agree a plan for medication timing and falls prevention (reminders, carer support, follow-up)
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
- Begin with an open question about a typical day for them both before asking about dose times. Carers often fear judgement, and a neutral description of the routine usually gives more honest detail than direct questions about missed doses.
- Then ask him to describe one near-fall in his own words: what she was doing, how long after a tablet, and whether she had just stood up. Ask also how he himself is coping as the main carer.
- Keep the explanation of timing short and honest. Her tablets control her symptoms, so late or missed doses may be one contributor to the near-falls. Say clearly it may not be the only cause, and that the GP will look at other possibilities.
- Place the reassurance before the falls advice and make it specific, naming what he already does well, rather than a generic well done. Give the falls advice in small steps and check he knows who to call if she falls.
- Close by agreeing one or two changes he thinks he can manage, such as reminders, plus who follows up and when. If time runs short, prioritise tablet timing and what to do after a fall, because these were the GP's concerns.
Phrases to adapt
Use your own words; these show the register, not lines to memorise.
- Looking after someone with Parkinson's every day is hard work. How are you managing yourself?
- Nobody is checking up on you. I want to work out what would make your days easier.
- Can you talk me through what happened just before she nearly fell?
- To make sure I explained it clearly, could you tell me how you would handle a fall?
Medical words in plain English
| Term | How you might say it to the patient |
|---|---|
| levodopa | Her main Parkinson's tablet, which helps control stiffness and slowness, so the timing matters. |
| postural dizziness | Feeling light-headed or unsteady when she stands up from sitting or lying. |
| near-fall | A stumble where she nearly went down but caught herself or was caught. |
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
- Community clinic: young man relying only on his asthma reliever Community clinic (general practice)
- Aged care: son angry his mother was given a sedative without his knowledge Aged care facility
- Emergency: man who wants to drive home alone after a head injury Emergency department
All sets: nurses, doctors, other professions. Your profession's guide: OET Nursing.
Questions about this role-play
Should I ask about each dose time on the chart?
Ask about the day's rhythm first, then confirm the key times gently, especially the late mornings mentioned on the card. Going tablet by tablet from the start can feel like an exam and may make him defensive.
What if he admits that tablets are sometimes late?
Thank him for being honest, and do not correct him sharply. Explore what makes the times hard to keep, such as her getting up late or his own tiredness, and then problem-solve with reminders or support. Tell the GP what you learn.
How much should I say about other causes of the near-falls?
Briefly. Say tablet timing may play a part but that other causes are possible, and the GP is reviewing her. Do not name a diagnosis or promise that fixing the timing will stop the falls.
Sources
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