Virtual reality (VR) is a high-impact emerging learning experience that is rapidly growing. Learn about initial approaches taken to immerse students in virtual learning, exploratory research efforts, and the impact on knowledge, confidence, and empathy.
Undergraduate nurse preparation is inclusive of a holistic, caring framework with patients of varied ages across a health-illness continuum (AACN, 2008). The need for students to understand the impact of chronic disease, including vision and hearing loss, and aspects of dementia, are important in current society where there is an increasing age of patients requiring healthcare. Class readings and discussion offer background information for student; clinical experiences are often by chance. Foronda et al. (2017) notes three characteristics unique to VR: a digitally simulated world, immersion in that simulated world, and the ability of the learner to interact with/within the simulation. The significance can be highly impacting in a relatively short sequence of time. Embodied Labs is a VR audio-visual immersion experience using Oculus goggles, where the learner becomes someone with chronic disease, i.e., Alfred (vision and hearing loss) or Beatriz (advancing dementia).
To explore the use of VR simulation in clinical courses using Embodied Labs, data was collected from students groups to evaluate learning experiences by obtaining pre- and post-surveys. There were two active VR experiences: Alfred, a 74-year old male with hearing and vision impairment; and, Beatriz, a 66-year old woman with advancing dementia. Student response to the integrated VR experience was overwhelmingly positive from students supports VR as an innovative approach.
Nursing education continues to need to find innovative and diverse ways to improve students’ understanding of patient perspectives, to provide safe, holistic patient-centered care. Building empathy in the curriculum would broaden the horizons for how we can continue to improve teaching, impacting knowledge, skills, and attitudes in higher education. The data from this project integrating VR into nursing curriculum appears to have potential as a high-impact emerging technology in higher education. Both quantitative and qualitative results will be presented during the session, demonstrating the positive impact to student learning.
The objectives of this session are:
1. Describe types of virtual reality, providing examples of the use of virtual reality in nursing education currently.
2. Review findings of student response to immersive reality experiences in undergraduate nursing education.
3. Identify strategies, challenges, and considerations with the integration of virtual reality experiences
4. Reflect and consider how virtual learning could be integrated into other disciplines.