BSN students utilize immersive VR simulation to prepare for realities of acute care nursing

^{BSN seniors engage in the first of five immersive VR modules over the semester, beginning with one patient and gradually increasing to five patients.}

Seniors in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program are utilizing virtual reality (VR) in novel ways meant to prepare them for the realities of practicing as an acute care nurse, as the school launches the Big 10 Practice Ready Initiative.

“It feels pretty real,” says BSN student Julia Barger. “You can tell how the patient looks and you can assess them however you want. It’s really cool.”

The Big 10 Practice Ready Nursing Initiative, led by Simulation Director Cynthia Bradley, PhD, RN, CNE, CHSE, is being conducted at four Big 10 sites. In addition to the University of Minnesota, students at University of Michigan, Purdue University and University of Nebraska are also participating.

Students engage in five immersive VR modules over a semester, beginning with one patient and gradually increasing to five patients. They use an Oculus headset and controller as they maneuver through an acute care setting.

“This is a unique experience for nursing students because they are able to go in and manage multiple patients in a completely risk-free space,” says Jessica McGahan, of Oxford Medical Simulation. “As a nurse, you’re going to have lots of people, lots of plates spinning at once. You need to be able to go in and manage an increasing workload and this is really giving them that preparation for practice.”

BSN student Julia Barger liked the challenge of being able to take care of multiple patients because in clinical learning she’s only assigned one. “I think its real cool technology. I think it gives us a really unique perspective that maybe not other nursing schools will have,” she says.

The scenarios are developed to mimic real life, with a phone ringing or another patient needing meds, which is an element students say they appreciated.

“You, as a nursing student, are going to have to learn and adapt to a changing situation like in real life,” says BSN student Alfonso Amores. “I think it’s really neat. I can see the real use for it.”

BSN student Conrad Noel liked that the VR simulation made him respond in real time. “It’s a little bit more on-the-fly thinking. You can call the provider, you can talk to the charge nurse.”

The immersive VR simulations allows students to be autonomous decision makers for patients, which is something they haven’t experienced before.

“This is the only time in their nursing program where they can act as the nurse alone and that is something for obvious safety reasons. We can’t do that in clinical,” says Bradley. “In VR, they make their own decisions. Many students said they forgot they were in a classroom because they felt like they were right there with that patient. Some of them talked about the stress they felt of making the decisions for their patient.”

The technology allows students to talk with patients and care for them with equipment and supplies found in a typical patient room.

“We’re using VR as a way to practice our skills and it’s really cool experience to have,” says BSN student Sydney Zander.

After students complete their VR scenario, faculty debrief with students in groups where they are guided through reflective thinking over the decisions they made in the scenario.

“This will improve their confidence,” says Bradley. “I think it will improve their competence so that when they transition into practice they’re truly ready for nursing practice and they know what this is going to look like when they get there.”

The Big 10 Practice Ready Nursing Initiative is supported by the American Nurses Foundation Reimagining Nursing Initiative, which funded 10 projects to improve practice readiness in the U.S.

BSN student Elianna Steenwyk is grateful the new technology is supporting her education. “It’s awesome that we get to do this and learn in this way and just have more opportunity to learn,” she says.