Study Finds Immersive VR Training More Effective Than Clinical Practice for Nursing Performance

A new study suggests that the use of virtual reality (VR) technology could be an effective tool for improving the training of future nurses. The research, which was conducted by Bethany Cieslowski and her team of researchers at George Mason University in Virginia, found that nursing students who engaged in immersive VR training were able to perform better overall than those who received only traditional clinical practice.

According to Cieslowski, the use of VR in nursing practice is growing, but there is still limited evidence regarding its effectiveness, particularly in immersive virtual reality. To address this, the research team examined the general effectiveness of an immersive VR simulation training program that could be used as a replacement for pediatric clinical practice.

The study compared the performance outcomes of one control group that received typical inpatient clinical training and one intervention group that completed simulated VR training. After completing their respective training programs, all students underwent an in-person simulation test, which measured their total performance scores across a variety of categories.

The results of the study showed that the students who completed the VR training program performed significantly better overall than those who received only traditional clinical practice. Notably, there were no significant differences between the two groups in medication administration, focused assessments, or patient evaluations.

The research was motivated in part by the need to find new approaches to nursing education in response to the increasing demand for nursing school enrolment, which has been exacerbated by nursing shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study suggests that VR technology could offer a solution to some of the difficulties facing nursing education, particularly in regards to pediatric clinical placements, which are in high demand but often limited in availability.

Cieslowski believes that these findings offer hope for the future of nursing education and the training of the next generation of nurses. She suggests that immersive virtual reality has the potential to revolutionize the way that nursing students are trained, by providing practical experience beyond the walls of inpatient clinics and by offering new strategies to optimize learning and ensure competency in future nursing graduates.