Effectiveness of a mixed reality simulation program for dyspnoea care on new nurses' clinical competency: A...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Simulation
• Mixed Reality Technology

Background:

• New nurses often lack the advanced skills required for effective dyspnoea management.
• Traditional training methods may not adequately prepare nurses for complex patient care scenarios.
• Mixed reality (MR) simulation offers a potential solution to bridge this competency gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a mixed reality (MR) simulation program, D-MRSim, for dyspnoea care.
• To enhance the clinical competency of newly graduated nurses in managing patients with dyspnoea.
• To assess the impact of D-MRSim on nurses' confidence, problem-solving abilities, and knowledge.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods design incorporating a randomized controlled trial and focus group interviews (FGIs).
• 59 new nurses were randomized into an experimental group (D-MRSim) or a control group (traditional training).
• The D-MRSim program involved three 2-hour sessions over 6 weeks, developed using the ADDIE model.

Main Results:

• The D-MRSim group showed significant improvements in confidence, problem-solving, and knowledge compared to baseline.
• Experimental group participants demonstrated significantly higher knowledge and clinical performance immediately and 3 months post-intervention.
• FGIs revealed themes of a realistic learning environment, effective learning, competency enhancement, and areas for improvement.

Conclusions:

• The D-MRSim program effectively enhanced new nurses' clinical competency in dyspnoea care.
• The immersive MR environment and practice opportunities provided by D-MRSim are valuable for skill development.
• D-MRSim serves as a promising educational tool for improving nurses' clinical skills and adaptability in patient care.