Sponge Activity Pack for Nursing Educators

The Nurse Squad Game is designed to be flexible and easy to implement in a variety of teaching situations. Educators can use it anytime they want to energize the classroom, reinforce key concepts, or turn unexpected downtime into meaningful learning.

Examples include:

• Unexpected downtime in clinical when a patient discharge, delayed medication pass, or schedule change leaves students waiting
• Lab or simulation delays while students wait for equipment, supplies, or the next group to rotate through a skill station
• Beginning of class warm-ups to activate prior knowledge before starting new content
• End-of-class review to reinforce key concepts covered during the lesson
• Exam preparation sessions to practice answering NCLEX-style questions in a low-pressure environment
• Remediation activities for students who need additional support with specific subject areas
• Post-lecture reinforcement to check understanding and promote discussion
• Clinical post-conference activities to connect patient care experiences with core nursing concepts
• Break-time engagement during long class sessions or simulation days
• Study group competitions that encourage peer learning and collaboration
• Quick knowledge checks when faculty want to gauge student understanding in real time
• Substitute instructor activities when a ready-to-use learning activity is needed

Because the game is structured around NCLEX-style clinical reasoning, it helps students strengthen their decision-making skills while keeping learning interactive, competitive, and fun.

The Nurse Squad Game also supports the development of social and emotional learning skills, which are essential for success in both nursing school and professional practice. Students often gravitate toward familiar peers and may hesitate to engage with classmates outside of their usual group. Over time, this can create cliques that limit collaboration and reduce opportunities for students to learn from different perspectives.

By organizing students into small squads, instructors can intentionally mix students who may not normally work together. The game format encourages students to communicate, problem-solve, and make decisions as a team while working through NCLEX-style questions. As they discuss possible answers and justify their thinking, students practice skills such as active listening, respectful disagreement, and shared decision-making.