Simulated Patients

Cape Breton Medical Campus is hiring Simulated Patients (SPs) to support clinical education for undergraduate medical students. SPs are community members trained to realistically and consistently portray a patient in a standardized clinical scenario. This includes simulating the historical, physical, and emotional aspects of a patient encounter to help learners practice their clinical, communication, and professional skills.

You do not need to have experience as an actor or have any medical background. What matters most is your ability to follow training, portray roles consistently, and work professionally with learners and faculty. Comprehensive training is provided for every case.

This is a casual, on-call position with flexible hours. SPs are contacted as needed and may accept or decline each opportunity. Most opportunities occur during the academic year (September–May), with occasional training sessions and workshops outside that period.

Key Responsibilities:

• Enact carefully scripted scenarios as a standardized patient across a range of clinical cases
• Participate in both formative (teaching-focused) and summative (assessment-focused) sessions
• Portray patient roles in a consistent, repeatable manner across multiple learner encounters
• Participate in physical examination activities as required
• Provide constructive, learner-centered feedback to students, when applicable (SPs are trained to provide patient-centred feedback)
• Maintain confidentiality regarding cases, materials, and learner performance
• Attend and actively participate in mandatory, paid training sessions for each case accepted

Qualifications:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Comfort portraying realistic emotional and physical patient responses
• Reliability, punctuality, and professionalism
• Ability to follow instructions and maintain consistency with training
• Openness to feedback and a willingness to learn
• No acting or medical experience required—comprehensive training will be provided

What to Expect:

• Training & Scripts: You will receive a script and detailed paid training for each case, covering symptoms, history, behaviour, and how to answer learner questions.
• Physical Exams: Some roles may involve basic, non-invasive physical exams. You may be asked to wear a hospital gown over your clothing. Participation is always voluntary and discussed in advance.
• Feedback: In some cases, SPs provide structured, patient-centred feedback to learners. Training is provided to guide you.
• Safety: Your safety and comfort are a top priority. If you ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable during a simulation, you are encouraged to pause or stop the session and speak with a staff member.
• Work Environment: This is flexible, meaningful work in a collaborative educational setting. Many SPs find the role rewarding and informative.

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences. Our goal is to reflect the diversity of the populations our future clinicians will serve.

Applicants may submit their resume to Nathalia Moreira at nathalia_moreira@cbu.ca

Cape Breton Medical Campus

1240 Grand Lake Road | Sydney, NS | B1P 6J7