"17 years of Role Playing" ~ January 2025

KURSA member Jean Stopford talked to the group about her amusing ... and serious ... experiences as a role player for the nurses in training at the University.

Nursing students at Kingston University prepare for their careers using simulated real-life scenarios with role players. Kingston University first employed around 10 role players in 2010. The number has now grown to about 70, few other universities offer this experience. 

Role players are asked to perform a range of patient or relative roles based on real-life scenarios across the fields of nursing such as being a worried relative, an individual with mental health issues, a post-operative patient or a bereaved relative. The role players work from a written scenario but bring their own lived experiences, making the simulation as realistic as possible for students. All role players attend regular training which enables them to provide immediate constructive feedback to the students from the patient or relative's point of view which is always highly valued by students.

Head of Simulation and Practice Learning at Kingston University, Sally Richardson, has said;

"We are lucky to have such a large team of dedicated role players to provide an immersive learning experience for our students." 

International Nurses Day is celebrated world wide on May 12th ...

the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth.