This Nurse Created a Game That’s Changing How Nurses Learn—Plus 5 More Tools to Try
- Interactive learning tools are being used alongside traditional methods to support engagement, knowledge retention, and application of clinical concepts
- Nurse-created and nurse-focused resources, such as CharAid+, reflect a growing interest in collaborative and experience-based approaches to learning
- A variety of tools, including games, flashcards, and digital platforms, allow nursing students and professionals to adapt their study methods based on individual learning needs
Nurses don’t just learn from textbooks—we learn by doing, watching, and figuring it out in real time.
Clinical education in nursing has traditionally relied on lectures, textbooks, and repetition. While those methods build a strong foundation, many nurses find that real understanding develops through hands-on experience, observation, and collaboration in clinical settings.
That shift is driving a growing interest in interactive learning tools designed to reflect how nurses actually think and practice.
CharAid+: A Nurse-Created Game Focused on Real-World Learning
Created by Miguel, RN, CharAid+ is a charades-style game that turns clinical concepts into interactive, story-driven experiences.
According to his interview, the idea wasn’t something that started as a business plan. It happened organically during a study session when he acted out a concept instead of explaining it. His friend guessed it correctly, and in that moment, the idea clicked. "That’s basically medical charades… CharAid," he recalled, describing how a simple interaction became the foundation for the game .
That initial idea quickly turned into something more intentional. In 2025, Miguel challenged himself to design and build a physical product and launch the business within three months. "When I was holding the first box sample in my hand, I knew I wanted to go all in," he shared.
From there, CharAid+ evolved into a structured game that incorporates visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning. Players act out clinical scenarios—such as a code grey, leaving AMA, or common procedures—while teammates interpret and identify the concept within a timed format. As Miguel describes it, the game is “basically Heads Up, but with medical terms,” where coworkers act out real clinical situations while others guess in real time.
What sets CharAid+ apart from traditional study tools is its emphasis on movement and group interaction. "You’re actually moving and acting things out,” he explained. "On top of that, it’s played in a group setting, so it naturally creates opportunities for teaching, sharing experiences, and learning from each other."
In an interview, Miguel emphasized that this approach reflects how nurses learn in real practice. Rather than recalling isolated facts, clinical thinking often relies on pattern recognition, observation, and real-time interpretation. “Instead of listing symptoms like a pop quiz, you’re acting them out,” he said, highlighting the shift from memorization to application.
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He also noted that healthcare can feel highly structured and serious, which makes space for more interactive learning especially valuable.
Creator of CharAid+
"I love those moments when someone asks, ‘wait, what is that?’ while a card is being acted out—and then someone else jumps in to explain it,” he shared. “That’s learning using real life experience"
CharAid+ has already been used in a variety of real-world settings. Miguel has seen nursing students play during clinical breaks as a way to unwind while still reinforcing concepts, and nurses using it outside of work to bond and reflect on shared experiences. The feedback has been largely positive, with many users asking for more advanced content. “The most common complaints are actually good ones—people want more cards and more challenging content,” he noted, pointing toward an expanded version currently in development.
Beyond clinical knowledge, the game also supports communication and collaboration across healthcare roles. By creating a more relaxed environment, it makes asking questions feel more natural and encourages shared understanding between team members.
The product is currently available in individual and bundled formats, with expanded content planned for a future release.
NURSING.com*
Picmonic
LevelUpRN Flashcards
SimpleNursing*
SimpleNursing leans on short, animated video lessons, mnemonics, and targeted quizzes to turn intimidating nursing topics into bite‑sized, approachable content. Their platform emphasizes “memory tricks,” colorful study guides, and thousands of practice questions that simplify complex concepts and help students recall key facts under pressure. Because the videos and quizzes are organized by topic and built for quick, on‑the‑go review, SimpleNursing is used by nursing students who are juggling lectures, clinical rotations, and NCLEX prep and need a resource that fits into small pockets of time.
RNtertainment takes NCLEX review and turns it into a board game experience, offering a more interactive approach to studying. Built around a traditional game board format, it features hundreds of clinical questions and scenarios aligned with the latest NCLEX test plan, including all four major client needs categories: Safe and Effective Care Environment, Health Promotion and Maintenance, Psychosocial Integrity, and Physiological Integrity.
The game includes a range of question formats and difficulty levels, allowing learners to experience the variety they can expect on the NCLEX. Each question is paired with detailed rationales to help reinforce understanding and clinical reasoning. Additional features, such as test-taking tips and common pitfalls, provide guidance on both strategy and areas to avoid.
Designed for both individual and group use, RNtertainment allows students to compete or collaborate in a more engaging format. Whether used in classrooms or study groups, it offers an alternative to traditional review methods by encouraging discussion, teamwork, and active participation—helping concepts stick in a more meaningful way.
Why This Shift in Learning Matters
Nursing education continues to evolve alongside the demands of patient care. While traditional methods remain essential, many nurses are incorporating tools that encourage interaction, collaboration, and real-time application.
All of these tools likely share more than just an ability to keep students interested—they mirror the way nurses may actually learn on the floor: hands‑on, team‑oriented, and grounded in real‑world experience.
Not every nurse learns the same way, and that’s the point. Expanding how we approach education potentially allows for more flexibility, better retention, and ultimately stronger clinical confidence.
As more nurse-created and nurse-focused tools emerge, they offer additional ways to support learning that feels both practical and relevant to the realities of healthcare today.
🤔 Nurses, have you used any interactive tools or games in your nursing education, and how did they compare to traditional studying?
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