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Student Activities

Attribution

Original work: "Educators' guide to multimodal learning and Generative AI" — Tünde Varga-Atkins, Samuel Saunders, et al. (2024/25) — CC BY-NC 4.0
Adapted for UK Nursing Education by: Lincoln Gombedza, RN (LD)
Last Updated: December 2025

These activities are designed to help nursing students use GenAI as a tool for developing person-centred practice, with a focus on reflection, empathy, and communication.

Activity 1: Roleplay with Empathy​

Objective: Practice responding to a patient expressing frustration or distress.

Time: 20-30 minutes

Instructions​

  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

Instructions​

  1. Find a Sample: Locate a care plan from your clinical placement (anonymised) or use the example below.

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

  2. Use the Prompt:

    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."

  3. Compare: Note the differences. The AI might suggest:

    Revised: "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."

  4. Discuss: 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

Instructions​

  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 summary (3-4 sentences).

  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

Instructions​

  1. Gather Information: You are caring for Mr Jones, a 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: The AI will generate a draft. Your job is to:

    • Critically review it for accuracy.
    • Add clinical detail from your textbooks and lectures.
    • Personalise it further based on a hypothetical conversation with Mr Jones.

  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?