Effects of fully immersive virtual reality on nurses' knowledge, decision-making, self-efficacy and engagement

This study examined the impact of fully immersive virtual reality (FIVR) on knowledge, decision-making, self-efficacy and engagement compared with traditional onboarding methods.

Newly graduated nurses often face challenges in managing medical crises, including emergencies such as diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA). Addressing these challenges during onboarding is essential to prepare them for providing effective and timely care in acute settings.

A quasi-experimental pretest/posttest design was used with newly graduated nurses (N = 55) from two hospitals in a health care system.

Participants were assigned, over alternating months, to an intervention group using FIVR or a comparison group using the traditional onboarding lecture format. Knowledge and decision-making were assessed during the pretest and posttest, while self-efficacy and engagement were measured posttest only.

Findings showed that the knowledge scores of both groups increased significantly from the pretest to the posttest, but the degree of change was similar. No significant changes were observed in decision-making scores; however, the modified instrument failed to demonstrate adequate reliability. While self-efficacy scores were also similar between groups, engagement was significantly higher in the FIVR group.

These findings suggest that while FIVR enhances engagement, it does not significantly improve knowledge, decision-making, or self-efficacy compared with traditional methods in onboarding for DKA management. FIVR represents a promising and engaging tool for onboarding newly graduated nurses, particularly in fostering active participation. However, its effectiveness in advancing clinical knowledge and decision-making remains inconclusive.