I typically communicate in regards to the usefulness of simulation in nurse coaching, highlighting how digital actuality (VR) expertise has expanded the menu of simulation choices past manikins and standardized affected person actors. A brand new research in Taiwan even advocated that VR simulations “ought to be organized as early as doable in fundamentals of nursing observe programs” attributable to their worth in educating tender abilities, comparable to therapeutic communication, by means of observe eventualities.
Nonetheless, from my conversations with nursing directors and instructors, I do know there are some lingering misconceptions round the usage of VR which may give instructors pause earlier than deciding so as to add a VR element to the nursing curriculum.
1. Doesn’t VR require a big area?
A serious benefit of VR as a coaching modality is its flexibility, as it may be used within the lab, the classroom, and even from dwelling for nurse learners who dwell lengthy distances from the coaching heart. Since VR replaces visible actuality with a digital one, the learner wants a transparent protected area when donning the headset to keep away from mishaps when dropping monitor of bodily environment. A rule of thumb is to allocate roughly 7ft by 7ft of free area per consumer to make sure a cushty expertise. In comparison with different simulation sorts, although, VR requires little re-set time or sanitation procedures.
2. Received’t VR require a community techniques improve?
Due to the immersive nature of VR, a VR headset — even untethered — is greatest utilized in a static area to keep away from bodily hazards. Wi-fi community challenges comparable to bandwidth, latency, and consistency are concerns as web speeds fluctuate primarily based on location and connection (cable, DSL, fiber, 5G wi-fi, and so on.). Nonetheless, if an web connection is nice sufficient for clean video streaming, it ought to be enough for VR, though extra bandwidth will probably be required if there are a number of learners. If the world for utilizing VR doesn’t have good WiFi pace or reliability, it could require an improve to a more recent router or mesh router system, or including a spread extender. As with configuring area necessities, it’s sensible to seek the advice of an skilled in VR simulation to make sure you get one of the best community setup.
3. Received’t VR learners be remoted from classmates?
Immersive VR convinces the thoughts to really feel a way of true bodily presence in simulated eventualities, encouraging deep focus whereas interacting with sufferers and staff members. Youthful, “Gen Z” nurses particularly worth collaboration and usually tend to thrive in environments the place they will interact with their colleagues. A 2022 Cairo College research discovered “a statistically vital optimistic correlation between nurse collaboration conduct and high quality of labor life.” Relying upon the VR platform, coaching may be delivered in quite a lot of versatile tutorial approaches. Coaching may be facilitated by instructors, or by means of peer-to-peer interactions, the place a number of energetic contributors have the potential to change objects and share info immediately. Moreover, this flexibility extends to observational studying, with friends capable of watch the simulation unfold both on their computer systems or from throughout the VR surroundings itself. Learners may also take part from completely different bodily places, a bonus for nursing academic establishments drawing nurses from distant rural areas.
4. Doesn’t VR make folks sick?
VR-induced illness will not be frequent, however it’s actual. It’s important to make use of a VR platform with excessive body charges and correct proprioception in order that your mind and physique actions really feel related. Personally, my triggers are just like these for automobile illness — if I haven’t eaten lunch, if I’m not nicely hydrated, if I don’t have sufficient contemporary air. Nausea and headache are correlated to VR publicity time, so it’s greatest to take a break after half-hour in a headset. If learners really feel discomfort, they need to be capable of take part by actively observing a casted view of the VR simulation on a TV or laptop display.
5. Isn’t VR solely applicable for giant nursing colleges with deep pockets?
In line with a UK research, VR permits “simulations to be delivered at diminished price with fewer sources,” particularly related for establishments trying to scale coaching. Digital experiences assist scale back the fabric prices of nurse training as there’s no must buy new medical gear or provides for every nurse to coach on, additionally saving on medical waste. VR headsets comparable to Meta Quest, HP Reverb, and ByteDance Pico may be had at present for as little as a couple of hundred {dollars}, relying on the model. (Maybe by the point nursing purposes have been developed for the eye-wateringly costly new Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional, the pricing could have adjusted to a extra accessible stage.)
An pressing want
The web site of the American Affiliation of Schools of Nursing (AACN) tallies sobering statistics that spotlight a regarding pattern. Regardless of projected development within the nursing workforce in response to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment Projections, the continued scarcity of certified nurses, nursing instructors, preceptors, and scientific placements is actual. And it’ll solely worsen because the tail finish of the Child Boomer era hits retirement and will increase long-term care wants.
Incorporating VR-based coaching simulations into the nursing curricula presents a sensible resolution to teacher and scientific placement shortfall. If instructors can navigate previous their apprehensions towards the unfamiliar, VR might help in ushering extra certified nurses by means of the pipeline, extra shortly, to keep away from a healthcare deficit that would compromise the standard of affected person care.
Picture: shironosov, Getty Pictures
