Standardized Patient (Part-time, Per Diem)

The mission of The University of Bridgeport is to promote academic excellence, personal responsibility, and commitment to service. Distinctive curricula in an international, culturally diverse supportive learning environment prepare graduates for life and leadership in an increasingly interconnected world.

Position Description Summary/Purpose :

The University of Bridgeport Physician Assistant Program is seeking adults of different ages and backgrounds for their Standardized Patient Program. A Standardized Patient is a healthy person who has been trained to portray a patient in a medical situation.

The Standardized Patient role requires role-play and acting; qualified candidates will be able to learn quickly and memorize a brief script. This position requires excellent communication skills, the ability to accept direction, flexibility, reliability and a willingness to wear a hospital gown. This is a per diem opportunity, standardized patients are used for clinical instruction and assessment periodically during the academic semester.

This is a per diem, seasonal, hourly paid position will be coordinated by the Physician Assistant Institute.

Primary Responsibilities:

The primary responsibility of this position is to portray a patient, in a clinical setting. The actor will be asked to convey consistently, accurately specific emotions, behaviors and disease symptoms while interacting with Physician Assistant (PA) students during standardized patient encounters designed to enable experiential learning and/or assessment of students' skills.

• Memorize a case script detailing specific emotions, behaviors, and disease signs/symptoms
• In a standardized, accurate, and reliable manner present/act all aspects of case information, including history of current problem, affect/behavior and physical findings
• Ability to accurately and convincingly maintain a specified patient character as trained when responding to student questions
• Be highly dependable and punctual
• Demonstrate flexibility and reliability with scheduling and assignments
• Work in a professional manner when interacting with learners, faculty, trainers and peers
• Participate and engage in group training
• Ability to understand and follow directions and accept ongoing feedback from SP program trainers and incorporate it into case presentation
• Follow written and verbal instruction and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Be willing to be audio and videotaped during student sessions
• Be willing to wear a hospital gown with only undergarments underneath, while on camera and/or observed live through video monitor
• Maintain confidentiality of information related to cases, student behaviors and feedback evaluations
• Standardized patients may be physically examined by students as part of their clinical learning experience. These examinations may include: listening to heart and lungs with a stethoscope; pressing on the abdomen, neck, face and limbs to assess tenderness; using a scope to look in ears, eyes, nose and throat; taking pulse and blood pressure; checking muscle strength, reflexes, range of motion, and gait.
• COVID 19 PPE precautions will be maintained. Cases may be performed online through Zoom or in person.
• More invasive exams will not be performed.

Qualifications:

Required skills:

• Strong reading and writing skills
• Acting
• Good communication
• Prior experience preferred

Expectations of SPs:

• punctual
• reliable
• committed
• realistic
• accurate
• professional
• confidential

The assignments are intermittent, per diem, and seasonal. SP sessions are scheduled according to program requirements. This position is paid by the hours spent in training and in session.