OET SPEAKING WARM-UP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Mihiraa: Hi, good morning Albert. I am Mihiraa. Today, we can discuss some OET warm-up questions. The warm-up questions for OET are not assessed; they are just to get used to each other’s voices. Shall we start, Albert?
Albert: Alright, Mihiraa.
1. Introduce yourself.
My name is Albert. I am a nurse by profession with 10 years of experience in the accident and emergency departments.
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2. How long have you been working as a nurse?
I have been working as a nurse since 2010. Initially, I worked in the ICU for 4 years. Since then, I have been working in the accident and emergency department for the last 6 years.
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3. Why did you choose to become a nurse?
There are several reasons why I chose nursing. First of all, many of my relatives are nurses, and their stories inspired me a lot. Besides, nursing is a profession with an ocean of opportunities both native and abroad. Above all, this is a service-oriented profession in which I can serve humanity. Hence, I chose nursing as my career.
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4. Why did you choose OET?
It is my long-term ambition to work as a registered nurse in any English-speaking country, such as the UK, Ireland, and so on. To meet the requirements to register as a nursing professional there, I need to prove my English language proficiency. Hence, I choose OET to fulfill my dream. Moreover, OET is tailored according to the needs of nursing professionals; therefore, I believe I could perform well in this test.
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5. What are the current trends in your profession?
Nursing is a dynamic profession, and changes happen daily. Nowadays, technology plays a vital role in my profession. For instance, paper records that we used in the past have been updated to electronic records. Besides, at present, we are following evidence-based practice, which means there is a scientific rationale for every procedure. Moreover, in present days, a nurse can function as a nurse practitioner, which is equivalent to the position of a physician.
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6. Do you have a role model?
Yes, I do. My role model is my mother. I follow many of the things that my mother does. It is from my mother that I learned the basics of kind behaviour, decision-making, organizing skills, a polite and humble manner, and a helping and sharing mentality. The care and respect she gives to everyone makes me wonder sometimes. She is a perfect example of womanhood. I believe a nurse should possess all these qualities. She is my superhero.
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7. Which is your favourite destination? Why?
My dream destination is Australia. The first and foremost thing is that Australia has a world-class healthcare system, and I can be a part of it. Secondly, the country has a better standard of living and economic and political stability. Besides, here, nurses are paid well and respected too. In addition, I have many friends and relatives over there, so they can help me during my initial days.
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8. What is your career goal after reaching your dream destination?
Right now, I do not have any clear management goals. I am very interested in learning about management and leadership and would be interested in any committees that I could participate in and learn. I have lots of ideas and would love to be in a brainstorming group, and I am very interested in the management dynamics of the organization. I feel that I need to join leadership groups to learn and meet new people.
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9. What are the qualities that a nurse should possess?
Of course, a nurse should possess a variety of qualities. First of all, he/she should possess excellent communication skills, which help them not only to gather clinical data but also to maintain an effective relationship with other team members. Secondly, problem-solving and critical thinking skills are essential for nurses to deal with emergencies and difficult situations. Other qualities such as punctuality, dedication, honesty, and competency are also pivotal for nurses.
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10. What are the different roles of a nurse?
A nurse plays different roles in her profession. The primary role of a nurse is a caregiver. Apart from this role, she functions as a mediator, advocate, counselor, educator, and the like. A nurse plays a very crucial role in the healthcare system, connecting various departments in the industry for the welfare of patients.
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Here are some free OET learning resources from Mihiraa
OET LISTENING & READING – Listening With Mihiraa
youtube.com/@listeningwithmihiraa
OET SPEAKING TRANSCRIPT – Speak With Mihiraa
youtube.com/@speakwithmihiraa
Mihiraa OET
youtube.com/@mihiraa
Healthcare English by Mihiraa
youtube.com/@HealthcareEnglishByMihiraa
11. What are the pieces of advice for the upcoming nurses?
As a nurse, I can give a bunch of advice to upcoming nurses. Firstly I advise them to love their profession. If anyone loves their profession, they can carry out their responsibilities in an efficient manner without complaints. Apart from that, I advise them to be dedicated to their profession and maintain professional standards. These are essential because a nurse should abide by nursing ethics on any grounds. These are a few pieces of advice that I would like to give to future nurses.
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12. Describe your typical working day.
My day starts with prayer. After completing my daily routines, I reach my workstation by 7:30. Before taking the handover, I complete my inventories and update the crash cart medication and dressing trolley. After receiving the handover, I interact with my patients to identify their health needs. Based on my assessment plan, a nursing care plan and provide quality care for my patients. Afterward, I assist the physician in his work and carry out necessary clinical orders. Meanwhile, I find some time to interact with my colleagues and maintain a good rapport with them. My duty ends by 3:30 after I give a handover to the next scheduled staff members.
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13. Do you think nurses should attend continuous nursing education?
Yes, I do. The continuous nursing education program helps nurses to update themselves with the current practices in their profession. Moreover, nowadays, it is mandatory to have specific hours of continuing nursing education to renew the nursing registration. Hence, continuous nursing education is very important for nurses.
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14. Tell me a quality that you possess that suits your profession.
I think I have excellent communication skills, which help me to interact with my patients professionally. Apart from this, it also helps me to maintain a good relationship with my colleagues. So I think this is the one quality which suits my profession.
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15. Do you believe there is a gender disparity in your profession?
No, I don’t. Previously, it was a female-dominated profession. Now, the trends have changed, and there are large numbers of male nurses in my profession.
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16. What do you find rewarding about being a nurse?
I truly love helping people, and the most rewarding thing for me as a nurse is seeing the joy of patients and their families. It is always a priceless feeling to see our patients recover to a normal life after going through a difficult time. Throughout my years as a nurse, I have seen many heartbreaking times as well, and being able to help those families cope with loss has been very difficult but also rewarding.
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17. How do you deal with someone who isn’t satisfied with your patient care?
When faced with a dissatisfied patient, I assess the issue, determine if it’s something within my control to correct, address their concerns, answer their questions, and collaborate with colleagues for alternative solutions if necessary. My goal is to accommodate the patient without compromising their care.
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18. Tell me what you feel your greatest skill as a nurse is.
My greatest skill as a nurse is my communication ability. I’m very proud of my ability to listen to what a patient is telling me. Nothing frustrates them more than feeling as though they’re not being heard, and actively listening can help make someone comfortable. In addition, I learned that addressing their concerns and communicating assuredly make them feel comfortable, which is important to receiving quality care.
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19. What do you find is the hardest part about being a nurse?
I think the hardest thing I’ve had to deal with is feeling helpless. While it’s my job to provide as much care and comfort as medically possible, there are times when I just can’t do more. Seeing someone in pain or feeling miserable and knowing there’s nothing you can do to help is the most difficult thing I deal with. I am a nurse because I genuinely care about people and want to help, and when I can’t, that’s hard.
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20. How do you handle the stress of the job?
To handle the stress of the job, I prioritize self-care and seek support from colleagues and loved ones. I maintain a healthy work-life balance by scheduling regular breaks, engaging in activities I enjoy outside of work, and practicing stress-relief techniques such as mindfulness or exercise. Additionally, I make sure to communicate openly with my colleagues about any challenges I’m facing and seek their advice and support when needed. Taking time to decompress and recharge allows me to approach my work with renewed energy and focus, ultimately ensuring that I can continue to provide the best possible care to my patients.
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21. Are you comfortable working with other doctors and nurses?
I find I work well under a variety of conditions and circumstances, and I take pride in my flexibility. I enjoy working in a team because I often find that different viewpoints can help me find solutions to a problem I might not think of on my own. I also enjoy self-motivating and am equally comfortable working alone
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22. Would you say you’re a team player?
Yes, I’m definitely a team player. I enjoy working collaboratively and value the diverse perspectives that come from a team. Brainstorming with colleagues often sparks new ideas and helps us find the best solutions. However, I’m also highly self-motivated and can effectively manage my own workload and deadlines when working independently.
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23. What are the current trends in nursing?
Some of the current trends in nursing include telehealth and technology in health care: The use of telecommunication and information technology to provide health care services. In the field of education, Graduate education and advanced practice are on the rise. There is a push toward encouraging nurses to pursue higher education and advanced credentials, such as master’s degrees and advanced practice registered nurse roles. There is also a shift from hospital-based care to community-based care, as more patients prefer to receive care at home or in outpatient settings. Alongside, nurses are coming up with innovation and entrepreneurship; that is, nurses are opening their own healthcare businesses, developing new products or services, or working for nontraditional employers
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24. Importance of communication in nursing
Communication in nursing is the exchange of information, thoughts, or feelings between nurses and patients, as well as among nurses and other healthcare professionals. Communication is important in nursing because it facilitates the delivery of quality care and builds trust and rapport. Communication also helps nurses to ensure patient safety by verifying information, reporting changes, and following protocols.
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25. How to communicate with patients effectively
To communicate with a patient effectively, you should: Greet the patient with a smile and their name. This helps to create a positive and respectful first impression and shows that you care about the patient as a person. Take your time, even if you’re in a rush. This helps to convey that you are interested and attentive to the patient and that you value their time and input. Try to avoid distractions, interruptions, or multitasking while communicating with the patient. Importantly, explain things as simply as you can. This helps to ensure that the patient understands what you are saying and avoids confusion or misunderstanding. Use plain language, avoid medical jargon or acronyms, and give examples or analogies when possible. Finally, ask your patients if they understand everything to check for comprehension and clarify any doubts or questions.
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26. What is the dignity of being a nurse?
Being a nurse is a noble and rewarding profession that involves caring for people’s health and well-being. One of the dignities of being a nurse is respecting human dignity. Nurses respect the inherent dignity, worth, and uniqueness of every person they encounter, regardless of their health condition, culture, religion, or background. Nurses treat their patients with kindness, compassion, and empathy and uphold their rights to privacy, autonomy, and quality care. Having a sense of purpose. Nurses have a meaningful and fulfilling career that makes a positive difference in people’s lives. These are some of the dignities of being a nurse that make it a rewarding profession.
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27. What are the skills I need to be a nurse?
To be a nurse, you need a combination of both hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are those that are learned through training, education, or certification. Soft skills are habits or traits that enable you to work well with others. Hard skills can be acquired through formal education, such as a diploma, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree in nursing, and certification or licensure exams. Soft skills include interpersonal and communication skills that are vital for building rapport and trust with patients and colleagues and can be developed through experience, feedback, reflection, and self-improvement. However, depending on the specialty, setting, and role, one may need additional or specific skills to excel in the nursing career.
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28. How would you deliver bad news to a patient or their family members?
It is a tough but inevitable part of the job, and I believe I have learned to navigate it effectively. I understand how hard it is to watch a loved one feel uncomfortable, so I always try to demonstrate empathy when speaking to patients’ family members. I calmly explain the patient’s condition and the next steps we need to take, giving them time to process that information and ask as many questions as they need. Even though the news must be upsetting, I knew I needed to be honest about the situation to manage their expectations appropriately. I would never want to give families false hope about the outcome. However, I also emphasized our medical team’s commitment to providing him with the best care and treatment options available.
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29. Describe your ability to handle high-pressure situations.
I have always done well with deadlines and thrive in a fast-paced work environment. During my time at the urgent care clinic, I have helped numerous patients with illnesses, injuries, and health crises. One particular day, a mother brought in her young child, who had been quite ill. During the intake process, the child became unresponsive and I had to think quickly and act calmly. I immediately began checking the child’s vital signs, sent the other front desk worker to get the doctor, and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which I continued until a physician took over. The child was ultimately revived and my ability to act quickly using the training I had acquired was an integral part of saving that child’s life.
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30. Discuss the personal attributes that make you especially qualified as a nurse
I am extremely detail-oriented. Whether I’m charting and keeping records, noting patient conditions, or administering medication, I always double-check my work. Efficiency is important, but not at the expense of accuracy, and I believe in removing as many barriers to accurate care as I possibly can. I am also very observant. I tend to notice the details about patients’ conditions that others miss. Whether it’s a glassy look in their eye or a certain way they are clutching their abdomen, I look for and record details that may offer clues into the causes behind a patient’s condition.
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31. How will you make a positive impact on the nursing profession?
There are different ways to contribute to making a positive impact on the nursing profession. Creating feedback forms as forms helps us secure and promote our jobs and gives us the motivation to work hard. Nurses deserve better working standards and benefits for their hard work. Therefore, listen carefully to what nurses have to say to light down the workload. Additionally, it provides continuing education for all to make us stay updated to be the best always.
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32. Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I envision myself as a seasoned nurse, working in a challenging and rewarding role. I aspire to deepen my clinical expertise and leadership skills and to become a valuable asset to my healthcare team. I hope to be involved in mentoring and educating new nurses and to contribute to improving patient outcomes through evidence-based practice. Ultimately, I strive to make a positive impact on the lives of my patients and their families.
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33. What do you like most about your profession?
What I like most about my profession as a nurse is the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives every day. Nursing allows me to provide compassionate care and support to patients during some of their most vulnerable moments. The ability to offer comfort, alleviate pain, and promote healing is incredibly rewarding. Additionally, nursing is a dynamic and ever-evolving field that challenges me to continuously learn and grow. I appreciate the collaborative nature of healthcare, working alongside dedicated professionals to deliver the best possible care. The relationships I build with patients and their families are deeply fulfilling, and knowing that I have positively impacted someone’s health and well-being is what drives my passion for nursing.
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34. Explain your student training period, internship, or probationary period.
During my student training period, I gained hands-on experience in various clinical settings, which was essential for developing my nursing skills and confidence. I worked under the supervision of experienced nurses and mentors, learning to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world patient care. This period involved tasks such as administering medications, monitoring vital signs, assisting with procedures, and providing patient education. I also learned the importance of effective communication, teamwork, and time management in a fast-paced healthcare environment. The training emphasized patient safety, ethical practice, and critical thinking, preparing me to handle diverse clinical situations. This probationary period was a transformative experience, allowing me to grow professionally and personally while building a strong foundation for my nursing career.
Useful Resources
OET Listening
https://www.mihiraa.com/oet-listening/
OET Reading
https://www.mihiraa.com/oet-reading/
OET Writing
https://www.mihiraa.com/oet-writing/
OET Speaking
https://www.mihiraa.com/oet-speaking/