Best Healthcare Icebreakers and Games for Medical Teams

Building strong communication and trust is essential in any healthcare setting, and the right healthcare icebreaker games can make that easier from the very first interaction.

Whether you're welcoming new team members, kicking off a training session, or strengthening collaboration across departments, these healthcare-friendly icebreakers create a supportive environment that boosts morale, reduces stress, and encourages meaningful connection.

Here are the best icebreaker games designed specifically with healthcare teams in mind.

1) Two Truths and a Clinical Lie

Like the classic game, but related to clinical experiences. Each team member shares two true clinical anecdotes and one made-up scenario, and the group guesses which is the lie. It’s great for building rapport, sparking storytelling, and highlighting the diverse experiences across your healthcare team. Examples:

• A patient thanked me with a hand-drawn picture I still have in my locker.
• I once fainted while observing a routine blood draw.
• I’ve had to chase a runaway wheelchair down a hallway.

Which is the lie?

2) Why I Chose Healthcare Round-Robin

Everyone reflects on and shares their motivation for entering the healthcare field. A good way to inspire each other through each person's why.

3) My Superpower at Work

Everyone shares one strength they bring to the team (e.g., “I stay calm in chaos,” “I’m great with anxious patients”, “I am a rostering wizard”).

This helps build confidence and ensures teammates know who to lean on for what.

4) Would You Rather: Shift Edition

This is a light, fast-paced game, which helps reveal personality without oversharing. It’s also a useful insight for managers. The team leader asks would you rather..(insert scenario) and participants reply. Examples of would you rather:

• “The morning shift or night shift?”
• “Coffee or tea for your shift?”
• “EMR notes: type or dictate?”
• “Christmas shift or work New Year's Eve”?
• “Build our entire roster, or work consecutive early morning shifts”?

5) One Question I Always Ask Patients

People name a question they rely on to connect with or assess patients. This can help cross-pollinate techniques and teach working styles.

6) Silent Line-Up (Nonverbal Teamwork)

For this icebreaker, your team is required to line up by years in healthcare, time on the unit, or birth month - without speaking.

This activity strengthens team bonding by encouraging nonverbal communication, collaboration, and awareness of one another’s experiences in a fun, low-pressure way.

7) Equipment Mystery Box

Place one item in a bag/box (drain, connector, tubing, clamp, etc.). A team member pulls it out and has 20 seconds to:

• name it
• state when to use it
• Share one tip

8) My Most Used Phrase During a Shift

Another quick, usually humorous icebreaker that helps reveal personality. Examples:

• “Let me grab that for you.”
• “What’s the plan?”
• “How can I help?”
• “Hydrate, people.”

9) The 60-Second Scenario

Team leaders provide particpants with a mini-scenario (e.g., agitated patient, fall risk, IV infiltration).The team has one minute to physically position themselves or act out a response step. The activity is realistic and energising and helps build muscle memory.

10) ‘If I Weren’t in Healthcare’ Path

This involves asking participants to share an alternate career they almost chose (or would choose today). This is a great healthcare icebreaker as it’s often funny, humanising and builds rapport.

11) Healthcare Charades

Another fun activity that could help break the ice is playing charades.

Think of silent actions like trying to silence an IV pump, searching for a vein, realising your coffee is cold, or trying to swap shifts with someone.

12) The Medical Memory Chain Game

Name a piece of medical equipment that starts with the same letter as your name - like “Stethoscope” for Sarah or “Clamp” for Carlos.

The next person has to repeat all previous entries in order before adding their own. A great warm-up to get the brain thinking!