Pediatric OSCEs Within the Metaverse: A Virtual Reality Solution to Inefficiencies in Modern Nursing Education

The nurse practitioner (NP) objective structured clinical examination (NP-OSCE) is a cornerstone of nursing education, yet its traditional format is hindered by high costs, reliance on paid actors, limited pediatric scenarios, and increased instructor workload. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic amplified these challenges, necessitating innovative solutions for competency evaluation.

A virtual reality NP-OSCE simulation was developed with a game engine and virtual reality headsets. Designed for nursing education, the simulation immerses NP students in a virtual clinical environment, enabling interactive patient care and auto-graded assessments to enhance efficiency.

Compared with traditional manikins, the simulation significantly reduced costs, improved accessibility, and enabled realistic pediatric training. In addition, NP students reported increased engagement and motivation compared with traditional methods, and auto-grading reduced the administrative burden on nurse educators.

The use of virtual reality NP-OSCEs offers a cost-effective solution for continuing nursing education, supporting professional development educators in enhancing clinical competency and NP student preparedness across health care settings. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2025;56(7):271-276.].