Improvisation Theater Exercises: A Novel Approach to Teach Communication Skills

Abstract

Background: Nurse practitioner students need effective communication skills to provide patient-centered care and work in diverse health care teams. Improvisation exercises, adapted from theater training, have been used to improve communication skills with health professions education and can be used in nurse practitioner education. Method: Fifty-eight family nurse practitioner students participated in a 2-hour workshop where they learned four improvisation exercises to improve listening skills, observational skills, and the ability to respond in the moment. Students learned the application of these skills for health care conversations. Results: The workshop was well received by the students, and evaluations reflected that students anticipated using the skills in professional practice and personal communications. Conclusion: Improvisation exercises can be used in nursing education to teach communication skills. [ J Nurs Educ . 2021;60(2):116–119.]

Acting to teach communication skills to nurses

“…Previous initiatives suggest that theatre principles provide medical educators with tools to teach communication 8 . Improvisation exercises inspired by the theatre world have been used to teach patient‐centred care to nurse practitioner students 9 . Acting‐based training offers a novel means to teach communication and interpersonal skills to nursing students.…”

“…This pedagogical approach effectively applies Kolb and Fry's experiential learning model: learners engage in role play and are invited to tap into their personal experiences to develop their empathy 8 . Pedagogy inspired by the theatre world has been well received by participants, including nursing students 9 . Nursing education has been shown to be enhanced by drama initiatives through improving students' understanding of patients' experiences and perspectives, developing their empathy and self‐awareness, and optimising their communication skills 11 …”

“…8 Improvisation exercises inspired by the theatre world have been used to teach patientcentred care to nurse practitioner students. 9 Acting-based training offers a novel means to teach communication and interpersonal skills to nursing students.…”

“…8 Pedagogy inspired by the theatre world has been well received by participants, including nursing students. 9 Nursing education has been shown to be enhanced by drama initiatives through improving students' understanding of patients' experiences and perspectives, developing their empathy and self-awareness, and optimising their communication skills. 11 Nursing leadership at our institution identified a gap in the clinical skills curriculum, namely that preclinical nursing students shared written and verbal feedback that they were not getting sufficient practice to communicate with patients and members of the health care team.…”

Leadership learning through games in co‐curricular settings

“…Improvisational theater games have become an increasingly popular way to develop employee's innovation, creativity, collaboration, and even customer service skills within the corporate world and are now gaining traction within higher education (Dufresne, 2020). Research on the use of improv within higher education pointed to several studies where improvisation was successfully used to teach essential skills such as helping nursing and pharmacy students practice effective patient communication (Boesen et al., 2009; Higgins & Nesbitt, 2021). Leadership educators can incorporate improv theater games to help students get out of their comfort zones, practice adaptability, and become more confident acting in uncertain situations (Dufresne, 2020).…”