Evaluating the impact of virtual reality training simulations in nursing education

Abstract

As part of their education, nursing students are required to learn how to operate a variety of complex medical equipment which is often only accessible in classroom or laboratory settings. Students are required to master operational skills, but are not able to access the equipment they need to practice. To address this issue we created a virtual reality IV pump training simulator so that students are able to practice anywhere, for as long as they need in order to master the skill. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the potential effectiveness and impact of the VR simulation by determining student satisfaction with this method of practice and their perceptions of the effectiveness of VR for their learning. Research questions: Do students view the VR training simulation as an effective alternative to a physical IV pump for training purposes? Are there any barriers that might limit students’ ability to access or use the VR simulation? How do students perceive the VR simulation in terms of effectiveness for learning? Our VR prototype was tested with current nursing students. This presentation will discuss the development, study results, and room for improvement.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sam Qorbani