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Teaching and learning

Student Activities

Illustrated banner of nursing students practising person-centred communication and reflective writing
Four activities

Hands-on practice — empathy roleplay, values translation, the empathy mirror and a person-centred care plan.

Time needed

15 to 40 minutes each — each activity is short enough for a seminar or self-directed study session.

Safe use

Fictional or anonymised — use fictional patients or anonymised summaries with no identifiable details.

4 Structured Exercises15–40 mins each100% Synthetic Scenarios

Hands-On Practice: Empathy, Values Translation, Reflection & Care Planning

These four activities help nursing students use generative AI as a rehearsal and reflection partner for person-centred practice — never as a substitute for their own clinical judgement.

Activity 1: Roleplay with Empathy​

Objective: Practice responding to a patient expressing frustration or distress. · Time: 20–30 minutes

  1. Set the Scene: Use the following prompt to have AI act as a patient:

    You are a 72-year-old patient named Margaret who has just been told she needs to stay in hospital for another week due to a post-operative infection. You are frustrated, worried about your cat at home, and feel like no one is listening to you. When I speak to you, respond as Margaret would, expressing your emotions authentically.

  2. Engage in Dialogue: Practice your communication skills by responding to "Margaret". Try to:

    • Acknowledge her feelings.
    • Use open-ended questions.
    • Avoid medical jargon.

  3. Request Feedback: After 5-6 exchanges, ask the AI for feedback:

    Step out of the role of Margaret. Now, as an expert in person-centred communication, give me feedback on my responses. Were they empathetic? Did I use jargon? How could I have done better?

  4. Reflect: Write a short reflection (200-300 words) on what you learned about person-centred communication.

Activity 2: Values Translation​

Objective: Learn to identify and remove institutional jargon from care documentation. · Time: 15–20 minutes

Before · Institutional Task Language

“Patient non-compliant with mobilisation regime. Bed rest maintained. PRN analgesia administered. Will review.”

After · Person-Centred Nursing Note

“Mrs Smith chose to rest today due to pain. We discussed her concerns about mobility and agreed to try a short walk after she receives her pain relief. She is keen to get moving when she feels more comfortable.”

I am a nursing student learning about person-centred language. Please rewrite the following care note to be more person-centred, avoiding jargon and focusing on the patient's perspective and goals:

"Patient non-compliant with mobilisation regime. Bed rest maintained. PRN analgesia administered. Will review."

In a group or with a peer, discuss why the revised version is more person-centred.

Activity 3: The Empathy Mirror​

Objective: Use AI to reflect on a past interaction and identify opportunities for growth. · Time: 25–30 minutes

  1. Recall an Interaction: Think of a recent interaction with a patient or service user that didn't go as well as you hoped. Write a brief anonymised summary (3–4 sentences, no identifiable details).

  2. Use the Prompt:

    I am a nursing student reflecting on a clinical interaction. Here is a summary of what happened:

    [Paste your summary here]

    Using the Person-Centred Nursing Framework (McCormack & McCance), help me reflect on this interaction. Ask me guiding questions about my own values, the care environment, and the person-centred processes I used (or didn't use). Do not give me answers; help me discover insights myself.

  3. Engage in Reflection: Answer the AI's questions honestly. This is a private exercise for your own learning.

  4. Summarise: In your own words, write a short summary of what you would do differently next time.

Activity 4: Creating a Person-Centred Care Plan​

Objective: Use AI as a co-pilot to draft a care plan that truly centres the patient. · Time: 30–40 minutes

  1. Gather Information: You are caring for Mr Jones, a fictional 65-year-old man with Type 2 diabetes and early-stage dementia. He lives alone and is fiercely independent. He has been admitted following a fall.

  2. Use the Prompt:

    Help me create a person-centred care plan for the following patient. I want the care plan to:
    - Explicitly include the patient's own goals and values.
    - Use accessible, non-jargon language.
    - Address not just his physical needs, but also his emotional, social, and psychological well-being.

    Patient: Mr Jones, 65 years old, Type 2 diabetes, early-stage dementia, admitted after a fall. Lives alone, values his independence highly.

  3. Refine: Critically review it for accuracy, add clinical detail from your textbooks and lectures, and personalise it further.

  4. Submit for Peer Review: Share your final care plan with a peer for feedback on its person-centredness.

Reflection Questions​

After completing these activities, consider:

  1. How did using AI help (or hinder) your development of person-centred skills?
  2. What are the limitations of using AI for empathy and communication practice?
  3. How can you ensure that AI remains a tool for reflection, not a replacement for human connection?