Health promotion is an essential part of nursing care, and healthcare professionals are expected to make every contact count to initiate conversations with patients about healthy lifestyles and behaviour change. This can be challenging, particularly for nursing students, who may feel they lack the confidence and competence required. Simulation can be used as a teaching method to assist students in overcoming the challenges associated with delivering health promotion in practice.

This article describes a simulation exercise conducted with preregistration students at Birmingham City University, designed to encourage them to initiate conversations with patients around health promotion. It describes the tools and techniques used in the simulation exercise and includes a brief reflection by one student illustrating how simulation increased his confidence in delivering health promotion in practice.