Pressure Ulcer Management Virtual Reality Simulation (PU-VRSim) for Novice Nurses: Mixed Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Simulation
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Pressure ulcers (PUs) are a significant complication for immobile patients in healthcare.
• Novice nurses require practical experience for effective PU prevention, which is often limited.
• Virtual reality (VR) offers a promising platform for immersive clinical training and procedure simulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of a novel VR simulation program (PU-VRSim) for novice nurse training in PU management.
• To compare the impact of VR simulation versus video-based lectures on learning outcomes and user experience.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods pilot quasi-experimental study involving 35 novice nurses.
• Participants were assigned to either a VR simulation group (PU-VRSim) or a video-based lecture group.
• Assessments included PU knowledge tests, critical thinking, self-efficacy, and clinical judgment, with qualitative interviews for the VR group.

Main Results:

• Both VR and video-based learning significantly improved PU knowledge.
• No significant differences were observed in self-efficacy or critical thinking between groups.
• The VR group demonstrated strong clinical judgment and reported the simulation as realistic and beneficial.

Conclusions:

• The PU-VRSim program is feasible and enhances novice nurses' learning of PU management in realistic virtual settings.
• VR simulations show potential for improving clinical training and skill acquisition for nurses.
• Further research into VR for novice nurse clinical training is recommended.