How to end an OET Nursing letter: closing paragraphs, requests and sign-offs
End an OET Nursing letter with a short paragraph that turns your purpose into specific requests (what the reader should do, and when), then a brief polite close and a formal sign-off such as 'Yours sincerely' followed by your name and role. For example: 'I would be grateful if you could visit Mrs Haddad on the day of discharge to check her medication blister pack and assess her bathroom for falls risk. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.'
What the last paragraph is for
Your opening sentence states the purpose. Your closing paragraph expands it: it tells the reader exactly what you need from them, with enough detail to act on. In OET's Purpose criterion (0–3), assessors look for a purpose that is made clear early and then developed through the letter, so a letter that opens well but ends with "Thank you for your help" leaves marks on the table.
The ending also affects Organisation & Layout. Requests gathered in one final paragraph are easier for a busy reader to find than requests scattered through the background.
A three-part closing
| Part | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Specific requests | What to do, and when | "I would be grateful if you could visit Mr Nowak daily from 15 March to dress his wound and check his blood glucose before breakfast." |
| What to watch for (if relevant) | Risks the reader should act on | "Please contact his surgical team if the wound shows signs of infection, such as increased redness or discharge." |
| Polite close | One short sentence | "Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me." |
Then the sign-off:
Yours sincerely,
[Name] Registered Nurse
Worked examples
All patients and details below are fictional.
Referral to a community nurse
In view of the above, I would be grateful if you could visit Mrs Haddad on the day of her discharge to check that she understands her new medication blister pack, and assess her bathroom and stairs for falls risk. Her daughter, who lives nearby, has agreed to attend the first visit. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me on the ward.
Why it works: two concrete actions, a timing ("on the day of her discharge"), and one piece of practical information the nurse needs to plan the visit.
Discharge letter to a GP
I would appreciate it if you could review Ms Raman within one week to check her heart rate and kidney function, and adjust her medication if necessary. She has been advised to see you sooner if she experiences palpitations or shortness of breath. Thank you for your ongoing care of this patient.
Why it works: the GP knows what to review, when, and what the patient has been told.
Transfer letter to an aged care facility
Mr Bell settles best when he follows his usual routine, so I would be grateful if you could ensure he is offered his meals at regular times and is accompanied when walking at night. His son plans to visit on the day of transfer and would welcome a call to discuss his father's care plan. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you need further details.
Why it works: in a transfer letter the "request" is often about continuing care. Specific routines are more useful to the receiving nurse than a general "please look after him".
Endings that cost marks
| Weak ending | The problem | Better |
|---|---|---|
| "Please do the needful." | Vague and informal; no action is named | Name the action: "Please review her wound on Friday." |
| "Thank you for your help." (as the whole final paragraph) | No requests at all | Put the requests first, then thank the reader |
| "Kindly see the patient ASAP." | Abbreviation and imprecise timing | "I would be grateful if you could see her within 48 hours." |
| A new piece of history in the last paragraph | Background belongs earlier; the reader expects actions here | Move it into the background paragraph |
| "Yours faithfully" after "Dear Dr Lee" | Inconsistent with a named salutation in British convention | "Yours sincerely" |
| Several closing pleasantries | Wasted words, weaker Conciseness & Clarity | One polite closing sentence is enough |
Request phrases that sound natural
- "I would be grateful if you could…"
- "I would appreciate it if you could…"
- "Could you please…"
- "It would be helpful if you could arrange…"
- "Please contact… if…"
Vary them if you make more than one request, but don't stack polite formulas ("I would be most grateful if you could kindly please…"). Formal and plain is the target; formal tone in OET letters covers this in more detail.
Salutation and sign-off pairs
| Salutation | Sign-off |
|---|---|
| Dear Dr Lee / Dear Ms Patel | Yours sincerely |
| Dear Sir/Madam | Yours faithfully |
If the task gives only a role (for example "the Charge Nurse"), "Dear Charge Nurse" is a common salutation. Whatever you choose, be consistent and keep it formal. Avoid "Regards", "Best wishes" or "Thanks" on their own as a sign-off in a formal letter.
Check that the ending matches the opening
A quick test before you finish: read your first sentence, then your last paragraph. The last paragraph should answer "how, and when?" for the request in the first sentence. If the opening says "for daily wound care" and the ending talks only about medication, one of them is wrong. For openings that set this up well, see how to start an OET Nursing letter.
Practise and check your ending
Write a timed letter from the practice case notes or paste a letter you have written. medEmu marks Purpose and Organisation & Layout separately, shows the sentences behind each mark, and suggests corrections on your own wording. Your first letter is graded free without an account. Grades are estimates for practice, not official OET results, and medEmu is not affiliated with OET.
Related guides: OET Nursing referral letter structure · OET Writing criteria explained · discharge and transfer letters.
Sources
This guide is medEmu's writing advice; it is not official OET guidance. For the official description of the Writing sub-test and its assessment criteria, see oet.com.