Did you know you can make extra money every month pretending to be sick so medical students can practice their patient centered care skills on you?
It’s true! People who do this are called “standardized patients” or “simulated patients” and portray people with different diseases and injuries in medical simulations students must pass to become doctors and nurses.
These simulations allow you to play anyone from a person with a bad headache to an accident victim struggling to stay alive.
Many people find this unusual acting job a rewarding way to make extra money while also training future healthcare workers to be more compassionate and competent.
And the best part is, you can get paid anywhere from $15 to $45 an hour!
You don’t need great acting skills. You don’t need to do any medical testing or donate your plasma. You just need to play the part of a sick patient.
Intrigued? Then let’s take a closer look at what a standardized patient does, the requirements to be a standardized patient, the types of standardized patient jobs you can perform in, and how you can find SP work.
What Happens in a Standardized Patient Scenario?
So, what exactly does a Standardized Patient scenario look like?
While each simulation can vary depending on what the school or hospital is trying to teach, here’s what you can usually expect.
Applying and Training for a Simulation
Once you’re hired by a hospital or college, you’ll get an email stating they need SPs for a simulation. You can then apply for the simulation either by responding to the email or by signing up directly on online.
If approved, you’ll receive a simulation case on the patient being portrayed.
The case includes:
- Patient’s name and age
- Current Symptoms
- Family History
- Past Medical History
- Social History
- Patient concerns about illness
You’ll usually have a week or more to memorize this information.
Some SP programs require you to come to a paid training session before the actual simulation where you can review the information with other SPs and ask questions about it.
The Simulation
Many SP simulations are known as Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) that are designed to measure a student’s competence in interviewing, examining, and treating SPs.
On the day of an OSCE, you may report to a school office or simulation center that looks identical to a hospital examination room.
You’ll likely wear a hospital gown and possibly special makeup called moulage to simulate scars, sores, or other injuries.
When students enter the room, you’ll act out the symptoms of the patient you’re portraying. This can include coughing, moaning, or pretending your back hurts.
Students know SPs are pretending, but must act as if the simulation is real.
This means students might ask you sensitive questions – including questions about illegal drug use, sexual habits, and past surgeries.
You’ll answer these questions based on a simulation case you memorized. Some cases may require you to portray alcoholics, drug addicts, or domestic abuse victims.
Students can also conduct a physical (non-invasive) exam on you during the simulation. This can include:
- Listening to heart and lungs
- Checking reflexes
- Taking blood pressure
- Examining eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Pressing on stomach
During the exam, you may have to respond in certain ways. For instance, if you’re playing someone with stomach pain, you might groan if the student presses on a certain part of your belly.
Based on your answers to their questions and your responses to the physical, students create a diagnosis of what you could be suffering from and build a treatment plan.
Simulations also help medical students practice their patient centered care skills. For instance, students can reassure you if you express concerns about your symptoms. They can also explain a diagnosis in easy-to-understand words that won’t confuse or frighten a hospital patient.
Once the simulation is over, students share their findings with their teachers and receive assessment.
If you sign up for an OSCE, you’ll usually have to perform the same simulation multiple times with different students. A typical day can run anywhere from 3 to 10 hours and may require you to perform the same simulation 3 to 10 times.
Giving Feedback
During the simulation, you’ll also be watching students to make sure they perform required tasks.
For instance, you’ll check to see if they wash their hands before examining you or introduce themselves to you by name.
If a student said or did anything that made you feel uncomfortable, remember that. If a student did anything that made you feel well cared for, keep that in mind too.
After the simulation, you’ll often have a chance to share your observations with each student verbally and in writing. This feedback helps students know which skills they need to work on.
Keep in mind that many schools and hospitals record each simulation to help train students and other SPs. Because of this, it’s important that you stay in character during the simulation and don’t say or do anything that could be damaging (like ridiculing a student after a simulation).
What are the Requirements to Become a Standardized Patient?
Interesting work, right? So, what skills do you need to have to be a Standardized Patient?
Many people think they can’t be SPs if they’re not trained actors.
Don’t worry! Actually, most hospitals and universities just want their SPs to have these qualities:
- Good Memory
- Excellent Observational Skills
- Good Written and Verbal Communication Skills
- Punctuality
- Dependability
- Flexible Schedules
- Discretion (The simulation cases you memorize are confidential and can’t be shared)
SPs need to be at least 18 years old. However, some SP jobs require you to play an older patient, so if you’re in your 50s or 60s, you might be a better candidate for some SP work!
You’ll be hired as a part-time, independent contractor. Remember to have a valid photo ID and Social Security card when you’re hired!
Most schools require you to pass a criminal background check, drug test, physical examination, and TB test.
Many schools and hospitals also pay by direct deposit, so you’ll need to share a bank account and routing number.
Keep in mind that some SP programs have different requirements, so be sure to find out what you need when you apply.
Standardized Patient Jobs and Salaries
While most Standardized Patient jobs will be like the OSCE scenario described above, there are many different Standardized Patient jobs – and different pay rates for each. These include:
Standardized Patient
In addition to the basic OSCE outlined earlier, some Standardized Patient scenarios will cast you as the upset or anxious spouse of an SP portraying the actual illness. You may also act opposite medical simulation manikins that represent your children, siblings, or parents.
These simulations help train students how to deal with a hospital patient’s family members while treating the patient.
Standardized Patient salaries for this type of work typically range from $15-$20 an hour. Since most scenarios last 3-10 hours, you can often make $150-$200 a day.
Proctor
Sometimes, an SP will be assigned as a proctor to monitor hallways and direct students and SPs to their rooms during simulations. They may also be used as an understudy if an SP is absent.
Some schools require proctors to observe the actual medical simulation and write reports on a student’s performance.
Proctor salaries are comparable to Standardized Patients (between $15-$20 an hour). Some schools may offer a higher salary if they give their proctors additional responsibilities.
Male Urological Teaching Assistant (MUTA)
These Standardized Patients are men who allow medical students to practice administering male genital and prostate exams on their own bodies. These exams are invasive and not all SPs choose to take these jobs.
MUTA salaries are significantly higher (usually $45 an hour). MUTA shifts are usually short, and many MUTAs can make $90-$100 after only 2 hours.
Gynecological Teaching Assistant (GTA)
These are women who teach students breast and pelvic exams using their own bodies. Again, keep in mind that you don’t have to accept these jobs if you’re not comfortable with them.
GTA salaries are usually about $45 an hour and can be much higher at some schools and clinics.
How to Find Standardized Patient Work
Most Standardized Patients work at a single hospital or school and use these healthcare simulations as a side hustle to make extra money occasionally.
However, there are some SPs who really enjoy these unusual acting jobs and offer their services to multiple hospitals, schools, and clinics. These SPs pick up work hours more frequently and can earn a regular part-time income.
Whichever way you decide to go, you’ll likely find Standardized Patient jobs in these ways:
Online Searches
The easiest way to look for SP work is to do a Google search for “standardized patient jobs near me” or “simulated patient.”
This will show many standardized patient jobs in schools and hospitals in your area.
Once you find some standardized patient programs that interest you, check to see if there’s a formal application process. Most programs have an online form you can use to submit a cover letter and resume.
On your resume, make sure to include any Standardized Patient work you’ve done at other colleges or clinics. If you don’t have any SP experience yet, mention any school or volunteer work that might be relevant (acting courses and community theater work are great things to put down!)
Research Local Medical Schools and Hospitals
These days, practically every university with a medical program is building a Standardized Patient program for their students.
So even if your initial online search doesn’t reveal anything, it’s always a good idea to go directly to college, university, and hospital websites to see if they mention a Standardized Patient program.
Look for anyone listed as “Standardized Patient Program Coordinator” or “Standardized Patient Educator” and contact them to ask if they could use another SP for their program.
As a starting point, Johns Hopkins Medicine (Baltimore, Maryland), University of Arizona College of Medicine (Phoenix, Arizona), and UCLA (Los Angeles, California), all offer high-paying SP work.
(Remember to mention any relevant experience!)
Network with Other Standardized Patients
What’s the best part about being an SP? Interacting with many other SPs at training and performance sessions!
Socialize with these people! Ask them if they work at other schools or hospitals (or know of other places with SP programs) and request the contact name of their Standardized Patient Coordinator.
You’ll be amazed by all the SP opportunities!
Final Thoughts
If you’ve ever pretended to be sick to get out of class, you probably never thought those skills could help medical students pass their classes
However, not only will you be help train future healthcare professionals, you’ll be earning a nice paycheck in the process.
Over to you. What side hustles do you do to earn extra money and help others?