The use of Virtual Reality Simulation (VRS) into final year of the Undergraduate Nursing Education Programmes

Oral Presentation 5
Dr Siobhan Smyth, Dr Fionnuala Jordan, Dr Yvonne Finn, Prof Nadin Dütthorn, Miss Luisa Groddeck

The use of Virtual Reality Simulation (VRS) into final year of the Undergraduate Nursing Education Programmes

Introduction
The presentation introduces Virtual Reality Simulation (VRS) scenarios developed as part of an ERASMUS+ funded trans-European project – “ViReTrain, Virtual Reality Training for Health Professionals”. It includes three scenarios with the special perspective of their development countries, interpreted in an international way. All scenarios are based on authentic cases from clinical practice and are embedded in a module.

Immersion and presence are key concepts related to the use and implementation of a VR set-up. VRS helps increase students' confidence by providing them with a safe environment, which allows for trial and error, an opportunity not afforded with real patients. VRS can enhance the link between theory and practice for students, through repeated exposure to virtual patient scenarios, and practicing of clinical competencies to meet the needs of these virtual patients.

This VR educational intervention speaks to the complexity of care by calling attention to and addressing the emotional aspects of communication and interaction.

This presentation will be for Nurse Educators, Health Professions Educators, Clinical Simulation Educators, Nursing Programme Directors/Leads and attendees interested in VRS.

Objectives:

• Presentation on educational concept informing the VR scenarios
• Introduction to VR modules and scenarios
• Discussion the Valve Index VR kit
• Overview of the educator’s handbook

Methods
This VRS educational intervention activity speaks to the complexity of care by addressing the emotional aspects of communication and interaction.

Outcomes
This ViEeTain project shows the development of the educational concept, the modules and the scenarios, the development of the educators handbook and the use of the hardware to run the VRS.

Conclusions
This project describes an innovative educational concept and related modules with VR scenarios, which can provide immersive learning opportunities for senior nursing students. The VRS scenarios can be integrated into a nursing curriculum, to train that competencies of student nurses needed for the complex demands of changing nursing practice.