Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2026
Using Virtual Reality to Transfer Motor Skill Knowledge from One Hand to Another
Published on: September 18, 2017
Immersive Learning in Nursing: A Mixed Reality Approach to IV Simulation With Bimanual Haptic Feedback
Jeremy M Jarzembak1, Jennifer Biggs, Ann James
1Author Affiliations: College of Nursing, Kent State University, Kent, OH (Dr. Jarzembak, Ms Biggs, Ms James); Department of Computer Science, Kent State University, Kent, OH (Dr K Kim, Mr Jin Woo Kim); Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH (Dr Clements); and Department of Psychology Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH (Dr Clements).
Background:
Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) insertion is an essential skill for nursing professionals. Nursing students face significant challenges in learning PIVC insertion due in part to limited opportunities for hands-on practice with real patients. Traditional training methods with low-fidelity task trainers lack variability and depend on costly consumable products.
Purpose:
To address this gap, a bimodal haptic feedback interface integrated into mixed reality was developed to simulate IV needle insertion under diverse conditions, creating a simulated learning environment to master tactile skills, hand-eye coordination, and anatomically accurate procedures. Guided by the New Theory of Disuse, the simulator was designed to promote repeated practice and retrieval, strengthening both the accessibility and accuracy of skill performance through targeted, interactive learning.
Results:
Students reported an improvement in confidence levels and success rate after using the bimanual haptic feedback mixed reality IV simulator.
Conclusions:
By integrating features such as patient-specific anatomical variability, realistic resistance feedback, and adaptive difficulty levels, virtual reality and haptic simulations can closely replicate the nuances of IV insertion in diverse clinical scenarios.
