University News Last updated 26 August
A Birmingham City University (BCU) lecturer has developed a board game to prepare nursing graduates for the pressure, responsibility, and split-second decisions needed on the frontline of healthcare.
Leadership Team Roulette challenges students to take charge of simulated clinical situations, delegate, prioritise, and make tough calls – giving them a chance to practise before it really counts.
“I created Leadership Team Roulette to address a gap I frequently observed in nursing education,” said Nina Shamaris, a Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing at BCU.
“While students develop strong clinical knowledge, many have limited opportunities to practice leadership in a safe and supportive environment.
“This resource enables learners to experience leadership firsthand through discussion, collaborative decision-making and reflection, helping them build the confidence, communication skills and professional judgement required for contemporary nursing practice.”
After observing how traditional role-play left students merely observing, Nina worked with multi-award-winning games company Focus Games to develop the idea.
In the game, students rotate through leadership positions, taking responsibility for team decisions and articulating a clear rationale for care, practicing situations they’ll soon face as newly qualified nurses.
Nina’s research shows that incorporating these ideas into learning is vital, as although students often understand the concept of leadership principles, they typically lack opportunities to practice in time-pressured situations.
This disconnect can impact confidence, readiness for practice and ultimately, patient safety.
“I want students to recognise that leadership is not only about being in charge but also about communication, teamwork, accountability, and patient safety,” said Nina.
“I also hope the initiative encourages students to become reflective practitioners who can justify their decisions, challenge constructively when needed, and support colleagues effectively."
The game is already proving a success. All 50 of the third-year Adult Nursing students who participated in the study reported increased confidence in leadership and delegation and greater readiness to contribute to a more leadership-ready nursing workforce in the UK.
Educational games like this one are becoming increasingly mainstream. According to data from Markets and Markets, the educational game market in the UK is estimated at almost £300 million and is forecast to exceed £733 million by 2030.
Melvin Bell, CEO at Focus Games Ltd, said: “We’re seeing growing interest because games can make learning active. They encourage people to discuss, make decisions, practise and reflect rather than simply absorb information.
“We work closely with subject experts, like Nina, and learners to turn real learning needs into engaging game mechanics and realistic scenarios.
“We prototype, test, and refine the game to make sure it is both educationally effective and enjoyable to use.”
Leadership Team Roulette is the latest educational resource to emerge from the ongoing collaboration between BCU and Focus Games. They have previously worked together on The Burns Game, which supports healthcare education through game-based learning.
The latest project builds on that shared experience, bringing together BCU’s academic expertise in nursing education with Focus Games’ more than 21 years of experience designing evidence-informed game-based learning, tabletop simulations and digital educational resources for healthcare.
The shared ambition has been to develop educational resources that go beyond teaching theory by providing authentic opportunities for learners to participate, communicate, make decisions and reflect.
“Working with BCU and Focus Games demonstrates what can be achieved when academic expertise and creative game design come together,” said Nayan Patel, Director of Enterprise at BCU.
“Leadership Team Roulette turns research and insight into an engaging, practical resource that helps students build the confidence and leadership skills they need for real-world healthcare.
“It’s fantastic to see this work progressing towards a national audience and showcasing the potential of innovative, evidence-informed learning to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals.”
Currently used in third-year undergraduate teaching modules at BCU, Leadership Team Roulette will soon be shared nationally.
You can learn more about the game on the Leadership Team Roulette website.