Table 2.

Themes, categories and sub-categories of student experiences interacting with the VPs

Theme	Category	Sub-category
1. How the VP enables learning to happen	Socialisation to role	“This is how I should be.”
		“Develops self-confidence.”
	Authenticity	“Real but not real.”
		“The same thing happens.”
		“Sometimes bad things happen”
	Learning through mistakes
	Vicarious learning
	Design
2. Learning surrounding the VP encounter	“We all got to work together.” Reflective practice. “Connects with the content.”
3. Changing the way students perceive practice	“We’re all involved in patient safety”. Practical value “That’s not the way we do it here!”
4. Potential limitations to learning	Fear Overconfidence Barrier of the classroom Confusion Groupthink