OET - Occupational English Reading: Workplace Text Comprehension Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the hospital policy excerpt. According to this policy, which of the following actions is a permissible way to handle patient records? **Policy Excerpt:** 'All patient-identifiable information (PII), whether in paper or electronic format, must be secured when unattended. Paper records must be stored in locked cabinets or rooms. Electronic records must be accessed only via password-protected terminals, and staff must log out at the end of their session. Under no circumstances should PII be discussed in public areas such as cafeterias or elevators.'
- Briefly discussing a patient's case with a colleague in the hospital cafeteria.
- Leaving a patient's file open on a desk in a private, locked office while stepping out for a coffee.
- Accessing patient information on a shared computer and remaining logged in for the next user.
- Placing a patient's paper chart in a locked filing cabinet before leaving the ward. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Placing a patient's paper chart in a locked filing cabinet before leaving the ward.
The policy explicitly states that paper records must be stored in locked cabinets. Discussing PII in public areas, leaving records unattended (even in a locked office if the record itself is not secured), and failing to log out of electronic systems are all direct violations of the stated rules.
Question 2: Read the internal memo. What is the primary action required of nursing staff starting next Monday? **MEMORANDUM** **To:** All Nursing Staff, Surgical Ward **From:** Head Nurse, M. Davies **Date:** 19 March 2026 **Subject:** Update to Pre-Operative Checklist Protocol Effective Monday, 23 March, a new field for 'Allergy Bracelet Confirmation' will be added to the pre-operative checklist (Form CH-7). All staff are required to visually confirm the patient is wearing the correct allergy bracelet and initial this new field before the patient is transferred to the theatre. This change is mandatory to enhance patient safety. Training on the updated digital form will be available on the staff intranet from tomorrow.
- To attend a mandatory in-person training session.
- To start using a completely new digital form for all patient admissions.
- To complete a new section on the pre-operative checklist for every surgical patient. (Correct answer)
- To sign a document acknowledging the new allergy bracelet policy.
Correct answer: To complete a new section on the pre-operative checklist for every surgical patient.
The memo's central instruction is the implementation of a new, mandatory field on the pre-operative checklist. Staff must confirm the allergy bracelet and initial this new section. The training is mentioned as being available online via the intranet, not as a mandatory in-person session. The change applies to an existing checklist, not all admissions forms.
Question 3: Read the excerpt from a patient information leaflet. A patient taking this medication should seek immediate medical advice if they: **Excerpt:** 'While taking this anticoagulant, it is important to be aware of signs of bleeding. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience prolonged nosebleeds (lasting more than 10 minutes), blood in your urine, or unusually heavy menstrual bleeding. Minor bruising or occasional gum bleeding when brushing your teeth is common and not usually a cause for alarm unless it becomes severe or persistent.'
- Notice more bruises than usual after minor bumps.
- Have a nosebleed that stops after five minutes.
- See a small amount of blood after brushing their teeth.
- Observe that their urine is reddish in colour. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Observe that their urine is reddish in colour.
The text explicitly lists 'blood in your urine' as a reason to contact a doctor immediately. Reddish-coloured urine is a sign of blood. Minor bruising and occasional gum bleeding are mentioned as common and not typically alarming. A nosebleed lasting less than the 10-minute threshold is also not listed as a trigger for immediate contact.
Question 4: Review the staff roster. A patient's family member calls on a Tuesday evening with a query about the patient's medication schedule. According to the roster, who is the most appropriate staff member to handle this inquiry? **Cardiology Ward - Evening Shift Roster (16:00 - 00:00)** | Day | Nurse in Charge | Registered Nurse | Healthcare Assistant | |---|---|---|---| | Mon | S. Jones | P. Chen | L. Garcia | | Tue | A. Khan | R. Miller | F. Bello | | Wed | S. Jones | P. Chen | L. Garcia |
- A. Khan
- R. Miller (Correct answer)
- F. Bello
- S. Jones
Correct answer: R. Miller
A query about a medication schedule requires a clinically qualified professional. According to the roster for Tuesday evening, R. Miller is the Registered Nurse. This role is the most appropriate for handling medication-specific inquiries, as opposed to the Nurse in Charge (A. Khan) who manages the overall ward, or the Healthcare Assistant (F. Bello) who is generally not qualified to discuss medication schedules. S. Jones is not on duty.
Question 5: Read the following safety alert. Which of the following is an immediate mandatory action for all clinical staff as a result of this alert? **Equipment Safety Alert: Infusion Pump Model X-2** **Issue:** A software glitch has been identified in Model X-2 infusion pumps where the device may fail to sound an alarm if the infusion line becomes blocked. **Action Required:** Effective immediately, all Model X-2 pumps must be temporarily removed from clinical use. Before each use of any other model pump, staff must perform a manual check of the line's patency by flushing with saline. Do not use Model X-2 until it has been cleared by biomedical engineering.
- Manually flush the lines of Model X-2 pumps before use.
- Stop using Model X-2 infusion pumps. (Correct answer)
- Check the software version of all infusion pumps on the ward.
- Report all infusion pump blockages to biomedical engineering.
Correct answer: Stop using Model X-2 infusion pumps.
The alert is unequivocal in its primary instruction: 'Effective immediately, all Model X-2 pumps must be temporarily removed from clinical use.' This is the most direct and immediate mandatory action. Flushing lines applies to other models, not the recalled one. The other options are not the main action required by this specific alert.
Question 6: Read the email about a new system. What does the email indicate about medication orders after the new system goes live? **Email Subject: Go-Live for New e-Prescribing System** **To:** All Medical and Pharmacy Staff This is a reminder that the new e-Prescribing system will go live this Friday at 06:00. From that point forward, all new medication orders must be entered electronically. Please note that existing paper-based prescriptions will remain valid until they expire or are discontinued. To ensure a smooth transition, 'super-users' wearing yellow lanyards will be available on all wards to provide at-the-elbow support.
- All paper-based prescriptions will become immediately invalid.
- Staff must convert all existing paper prescriptions to the electronic system on Friday.
- Both paper and electronic prescriptions can be used for new medication orders.
- New medication orders must be made electronically, but old paper ones will still be honored. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: New medication orders must be made electronically, but old paper ones will still be honored.
The email makes a clear distinction: 'all new medication orders must be entered electronically' while 'existing paper-based prescriptions will remain valid.' This directly supports the idea that new orders are electronic-only, but current paper orders are still accepted until they run out.
OET - Occupational English Reading: Workplace Text Comprehension Questions and Answers 1
Read the hospital policy excerpt.
According to this policy, which of the following actions is a permissible way to handle patient records?
**Policy Excerpt:** 'All patient-identifiable information (PII), whether in paper or electronic format, must be secured when unattended.
Paper records must be stored in locked cabinets or rooms.
Electronic records must be accessed only via password-protected terminals, and staff must log out at the end of their session.
Under no circumstances should PII be discussed in public areas such as cafeterias or elevators.'