Welcome to the Standardized Patient Program at Grand Valley State University. Our Standardized Patient Program offers students experiential learning opportunities designed to enhance self-confidence and facilitate the development of skills essential to outstanding clinical practice and safe patient care.

We recruit and employ individuals who have the ability to portray patients with many different conditions and emotional states in both inpatient and outpatient simulated settings. Standardized Patient (SP) events offer students the opportunity to practice communication and physical assessment skills in a safe environment and further their development as emerging health care professionals. SPs are also utilized in the testing and evaluation of students and are coached to be able to effectively provide meaningful feedback to students verbally or through a written feedback tool.

The GVSU Standardized Patient Program currently serves students from many academic programs which include Applied Food & Nutrition, Athletic Training, Clinical Dietetics, Modern Language, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies, Physical Therapy, Radiologic and Imaging Sciences, Speech and Communication Disorders, Social Work, and Therapeutic Recreation.

Additionally, the Standardized Patient Program recruits and employs children from 15 days to 17 years old in order to provide students with pediatric learning experiences. Students are able to practice many different assessments such as speech, developmental, physical fitness, and physical examinations with our pediatric SPs. Parents are required to attend events with their children and remain in attendance at all times. For further program specifics please click on the FAQ section below.

Our Standardized Patient Team is proud of the work we do to enhance our students' learning opportunities. Our events are held year-round during the day, evenings, and on Saturdays. Most SPs work 4-5 times a semester. SPs (adults and children) are hired as temporary employees of the university and paid an hourly wage.