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Students can read a page and understand it in three minutes. If they have 10 minutes, they could
watch one of the videos. They will learn techniques that take just 2 minutes or even 30 seconds, but

can make them feel more confident or secure. For example, there's a video by a composer about how
sound in a hospital can affect the way you feel and how to develop a way of listening so they, or their

patients, aren't overwhelmed by sound."

Dr Alex Mermikides
A second pack, Careful Encounters, has been offered to nursing students whose learning has moved

to online teaching, as an adjunct to some of the learning in interpersonal and communications skills.
The students watch a 90 minute theatre performance created by Dr Mermikides, and then answer

questions raised by it - allowing them to reflect on their emotion, care and empathy as a nurse.

The partnership between the University's School of Nursing and the Guildhall School of Music &

Drama began in 2016 after Dr Mermikides contacted associate professor in clinical skills and
simulated learning at Kingston University, Sally Richardson and now retired Senior Lecturer Terry

Firth. Together, they created a series of workshops which the adult nursing students participate in as
part of the Nursing practice modules. These adapt techniques usually used to train actors, in order to
support learning in non-verbal communication, high stakes situations and using the voice to project

leadership and responsibility. The workshops have now been inducted into the core curriculum.

"We wanted to give our student nurses the opportunity to think and learn differently," Mrs Richardson

explained. "The workshops enable students time to reflect on themselves as a nurse and their
interactions with their patients, families and team," she said.

The collaboration also led to a professional performance, called Careful, which was created by Dr
Mermikides, her composer brother and a group of performers.

The show is about nurses' feelings, something that is not always acknowledged but can have a big
impact on patient care and on the nurses' own wellbeing. It was put together with the help of students
who shared some of their own experiences and feelings about their professional role. of the nurse.

"The show is based on interactions between nurses and their patients, but you only see the nurses -
you have to imagine the patient based on how the nurse talks to them. This helps exercise empathy

and close listening. It also casts attention on the nurse rather than the patient. We also use dance to
show the feelings of a nurse in an abstract way," Dr Mermikides said.