Standardized Patient/Patient Actor

Duke PF; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 24,796 - 35,955; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical and dental care

Generous retirement benefits

Family-friendly programs

Job summary

Duke PF is seeking Simulated Patients (SPs) in Durham, NC, to support healthcare professionals' education. As an SP, you will portray real patients to aid in clinical training, enhancing the skills of various healthcare learners. This role requires good communication, organizational skills, and the ability to work well with others. The position is part-time with a pay range of $18.00 to $26.10 per hour. Ideal candidates are punctual, organized, and adaptable, contributing actively to medical training programs.

Qualifications

• Acting, healthcare, and teaching experience preferred.
• Ability to improvise as needed.

Responsibilities

• Simulate a patient case for clinical training.
• Instruct and assess health providers.
• Provide feedback to learners.

Skills

Ability to work well with a variety of people

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively

Ability to recall encounters accurately

Ability to be well organized

Ability to work effectively as part of a team

Punctual and reliable

Capacity for flexibility and adaptability

Comfort with body examinations

Basic computer skills

Education

Ability to understand and follow instructions

Job description

Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,500 faculty physicians and researchers, more than 1,300 students, and more than 6,000 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, Duke University Health System and the Private Diagnostic Clinic (PDC) comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

Be You.

Join Our Team as a Simulated Patient (SP)

Are you interested in contributing to the education of future healthcare professionals in a meaningful and impactful way?

We are seeking individuals to serve as Simulated Patients (SPs) — trained individuals who portray real patients in a consistent, standardized manner to support clinical training and assessment.

As an SP, you will play a vital role in helping learners develop and refine their clinical and interpersonal skills. You’ll be trained to accurately and consistently recreate patient histories, physical symptoms, emotional responses, and communication styles. SPs are interviewed and physically examined by learners or healthcare professionals in a safe, respectful, and professional environment—just as if they were real patients.

Simulated Patients are recorded for teaching and assessment purposes.

Work Arrangement

On‑Site / Part‑time

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Work requires ability to understand and follow instructions.

Work requires ability to memorize and to improvise as needed and be improvisational.

Experience: Acting, healthcare, and teaching experience are not required but are preferred.

Skills

• Ability to work well with a variety of people.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a variety of people.
• Ability to recall an encounter accurately for the completion of checklists and written materials during practice sessions and assessments which result in learner grades.
• Ability to be well organized in all work aspects.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and work independently.
• Be punctual and reliable in attendance.
• Capacity for flexibility and adaptability in different work situations.
• Comfort with their own body and examinations by health personnel.
• Basic computer skills for email communication, document printing, and checklist documentation.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include simulating a patient case, instructing and assessing health providers at multiple levels (undergraduate, post‑graduate and practicing providers) in clinical and communication skills.

• Additional responsibilities include responding to email messages promptly, demonstrating professional behavior and accountability for actions, working as a team and keeping commitments to the SP Program.
• Simulate all aspects of the patient scenario, including history of the current problem, affect/behavior and physical findings in a standardized, accurate and reliable manner.
• Teach and assess clinical skills of medical students and other learners.
• Accurately and consistently document skills of learners, using a computer.
• Provide written and face‑to‑face verbal feedback to learners.
• Monitor other Standardized Patients for quality assurance.
• Accept ongoing feedback from supervisor and incorporate that feedback into case simulation.

Other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

Anticipated Pay Range

Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $18.00 to USD $26.10. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family‑friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and reasonable accommodation(s) can be requested with Duke Access and Accommodations Services (email: [e-mail]; phone: 919‑668‑1267).

Nearest Major Market

Durham

Nearest Secondary Market

Raleigh