Using the virtual reality world of second life to teach nursing faculty simulation management

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Informatics
• Virtual Reality Applications

Background:

• Healthcare faculty increasingly rely on clinical simulation for training.
• A gap exists in faculty competence in managing student simulations effectively.
• Traditional simulation methods may not fully prepare faculty for diverse clinical scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a synchronous virtual reality learning event for nursing faculty.
• To enhance faculty competence in managing clinical simulation using Second Life (SL).
• To pilot test the use of informatics and de-identified patient data in a virtual simulation environment.

Main Methods:

• Nursing faculty participated in a synchronous virtual reality training in Second Life.
• A 'Master Teacher' guided participants through simulation competencies.
• Participants then led their own simulations using avatars, with feedback recorded on an informatics dashboard.
• The Synthetic Derivative project utilized de-identified patient data for enhanced realism.

Main Results:

• Faculty demonstrated improved ability to manage student simulations within the virtual environment.
• The informatics dashboard effectively tracked progress towards faculty competencies.
• The use of de-identified patient data contributed to a more realistic simulation experience.
• Evaluation confirmed appropriate use of technology and effective design features.

Conclusions:

• Virtual reality, specifically Second Life, offers a viable platform for training healthcare faculty in simulation management.
• Informatics applications, including dashboards and de-identified data, significantly enhance the realism and effectiveness of virtual simulations.
• This educational approach provides a safe, effective environment for practicing clinical care management without direct patient contact.