Effectiveness of a virtual reality triage simulation program for nursing students: A mixed-methods study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Simulation
• Virtual Reality Technology

Background:

• Virtual Reality Simulation (VRS) offers immersive clinical scenarios crucial for emergency nursing education.
• Triage presents a significant teaching challenge in emergency nursing due to limited practical learning opportunities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a Virtual Reality Simulation (VRS) triage program.
• To assess improvements in nursing students' learning motivation, attitudes, satisfaction, and overall learning experiences in an emergency nursing course.

Main Methods:

• Convergent parallel mixed-methods design involving 164 third-year nursing students.
• Experimental group (n=73) used VRS triage; control group (n=91) used traditional case studies.
• Learning outcomes measured via motivational learning inventory (Attention, Relevance, Confidence, Satisfaction), attitude/satisfaction questionnaires, and phenomenographic interviews.

Main Results:

• The VRS group demonstrated significant improvements in motivational learning inventory scores, particularly in satisfaction, confidence, attention, and relevance.
• Qualitative data revealed themes of realistic clinical environments, knowledge internalization, enhanced clinical skills, and positive attitudes toward patient care.
• The core theme identified was the establishment of professional core competency.

Conclusions:

• Virtual Reality Simulation (VRS) learning positively enhances nursing students' educational experiences.
• VRS triage is an effective tool for improving motivation, satisfaction, and clinical skills in emergency nursing education.
• This study provides valuable insights into the application and effectiveness of VR technology in nursing education.