Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Photorealistic Learned Landscapes for Augmented Reality
Published on: June 27, 2025
Extended Reality in Health Care Simulation: Current State, Challenges, and Future Directions
Bethany Cieslowski1, Mindi Anderson, Kristen M Brown
1Author Affiliations: CPH Chief Innovation Officer for Immersive Technologies, BSN Division Director School of Nursing (Dr Cieslowski), CHSE Adjunct Faculty (Doran), and CHSE Clinical Lab Assistant (Derner), College of Public Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia; Associate Dean for Simulation and Immersive Learning, Professor, and Program Director of the Nursing and Health Care Simulation Program and Certificate (Interdisciplinary) (Dr Anderson), and Simulation Specialist II (Mallala), College of Nursing, Academic Health Sciences Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida; Associate Dean for Simulation & Immersive Learning, Associate Professor (Dr Brown), Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland; Associate Professor & Simulation Coordinator (Dr Guido-Sanz), University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies; Full Professor, College of Nursing and Director of Education Center for Interprofessional Engagement and Simulation Belmont University (Dr Hallmark), Inman College of Nursing Belmont University, Belmont University Center for Interprofessional Engagement and Simulation; Senior Associate Dean & Professor (Dr Wells-Beede), College of Nursing, University of North Texas Health Sciences Center, Fort Worth, Texas; Director, Simulation and Training (Mr Konzelmann), University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, Maryland; Director of Medical Simulation and Innovative Education (Belk), Air Methods Corp., Greenwood Village, Colorado; Vice President, Simulation Orbis Education (Dr Smeltzer), Orbis Education, Indianapolis, Indiana; Assistant Director of Learning Innovation (Carter) Parker University, Dallas, Texas; Professor & Senior Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Head of Health Technology Innovation Laboratory (HTIL) (Dr Mahdy), Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Chief Scientific Officer (Dr Polson), Immersive Technology Specialist (Rickerby), Associate Professor (Dr Landis), SimX, Inc., San Francisco, California; Immersive Learning Coordinator, Graduate Programs (Dr Burtch) School of Nursing, Purdue University Global, West Lafayette, Indiana; Center for Clinical Education & Simulation Manager, Associate Professor (Dr Chesney), Alverno College, College of Nursing, Mesa, Arizona; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (Dr Patel); Co-Founder & Principal, Power of One Consulting (Dr Patel), Power of One Consulting, Myakka City, Florida.
Background:
Extended reality (XR) technologies are increasingly integrated into health care simulations. XR enables immersive, interactive, and multisensory learning experiences that enhance skill acquisition, knowledge retention, and interprofessional collaboration.
Problem:
Despite growing interest, educators should address challenges, such as cognitive load management, inconsistent standards, accessibility barriers, and cost-effectiveness, to optimize the potential of XR.
Approach:
The authors in this Technology Overview synthesize evidence and provide expert discussion to explore the current state, challenges, and future directions of XR.
Outcomes:
The resulting recommendations highlight best practices in XR integration, including guidance on modality selection, curricular alignment, strategies to minimize cognitive overload, and future trends.
Conclusions:
XR has the potential to enhance nursing and health care education by supporting immersive, scalable, and learner-centered experiences. The future of XR depends on strategic efforts to enhance realism, usability, and integration. Priorities include intuitive design, adaptive artificial intelligence, advanced haptics, cost-effectiveness, and improved accessibility to support learning.
Related Concept Videos
Issues And Trends In Healthcare Delivery System
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
Current Trends in Nursing II
Current Trends in Nursing I
Methods of Documentation VII: EMR
Introduction To Health Care Delivery System
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) advocates for a patient-centered, effective, safe, timely, equitable, and effective healthcare system. The National Priorities...
Integrated Healthcare System

