Virtual reality debuts in the teaching laboratory in nursing

Area of Science:

• Medical Simulation and Training
• Nursing Education Technology
• Virtual Reality Applications in Healthcare

Background:

• Traditional methods for teaching intravenous (IV) cannulation can be resource-intensive and may present challenges in providing consistent, hands-on experience.
• The need for effective and scalable training solutions in healthcare education is paramount, especially for procedural skills.
• Advancements in virtual reality (VR) offer new possibilities for immersive and safe skill acquisition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of a Prototype Procedural Simulator for Nursing Education for Intravenous (IV) procedures.
• To create a VR-based simulation for teaching student nurses the technique of inserting IV needles.
• To assess the potential applicability of the simulator beyond nursing education.

Main Methods:

• Collaboration between the State University of New York's Nursing Department faculty and High Techsplantions firm.
• Development of a virtual reality simulation environment focused on intravenous cannulation.
• Implementation of the simulator as an educational tool for nursing students.

Main Results:

• A functional Prototype Procedural Simulator for Nursing Education for Intravenous was successfully developed and implemented.
• The simulator provides a virtual environment for practicing the insertion of intravenous needles.
• The technology demonstrates potential for broader application in training other healthcare professionals.

Conclusions:

• The developed VR simulator offers a novel approach to training essential intravenous insertion skills for nursing students.
• The simulator's design allows for potential adaptation and use in training medical students, laboratory technicians, emergency medical personnel, and physicians' assistants.
• This innovation highlights the value of VR in enhancing procedural education across various healthcare disciplines.