Error loading player: No playable sources found

P041

Using Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) Simulation to Improve COVID-19 Perceived Clinical Competency

Date
April 22, 2022

Background: COVID-19 presents many challenges for nursing educators due to rapidly evolving research and best practices as well as the highly contagious nature of the virus. The biggest challenge is educating pre-licensure and licensed registered nurses about the COVID-19 disease process and the provision of patient care while simultaneously avoiding the risk of unnecessary exposure to the virus that comes with hands-on learning opportunities.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact that immersive virtual reality (VR) patient simulation has on the perceived clinical competency of pre-licensure and licensed registered nurses learning to care for patients with COVID-19. Immersive VR simulation goes beyond the traditional lab experience to immerse learners in an environment with a realistic holographic patient (D'Errico, 2021).

Method: Learners were presented with an asynchronous, computer-based education module introducing the COVID-19 disease process and patient care information. Learners then viewed a series of video clips depicting a holographic patient with COVID-19. Learners were also provided with basic patient information, a case scenario, an SBAR report, vital signs, a description of evolving symptoms/behaviors as the virus progressed, and guiding questions. Objectives of the simulation were to equip learners to: 1) identify signs and symptoms typical of COVID-19, 2) discuss the assessment and risk stratification of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, and 3) correlate the signs and symptoms indicating deterioration and need for escalation of care.

Results: This study utilized a quasi-experimental research design with pre- and post-questionnaires to measure learners’ perceived clinical competency. Learners were asked to rate their level of confidence with various nursing skill competencies and nursing professional behaviors related to the care of patients with COVID-19. From a sample of 509 pre-licensure and licensed registered nurses, learners expressed the most significant gains in their level of confidence with the following nursing skills: developing care plans for patients (+11.2%), answering questions for patients or families (+14.8%), administering oxygen therapy (+17.6%), and educating patients or families with disease-related care knowledge (+18.5%). Learners also expressed gains in their level of confidence with the following nursing professional behaviors: communicating verbally with precise and appropriate terminology in a timely manner with patients and families (+5.8%) and with healthcare professionals (+4.4%).

Conclusions: Learners’ perceived clinical competency related to the care of patients with COVID-19 increased as a result of immersive VR patient simulation, despite the absence of hands-on clinical training. The simulation allowed learners to visualize a declining patient with COVID-19 and to think critically about the nursing interventions related to the patient’s care. Using virtual reality (VR) simulation to improve COVID-19 perceived clinical competency is not only applicable in a collegiate setting but also in ambulatory care settings for staff education, orientation, and annual competencies.

Reference
1) D’Errico, M. (2021, January 7). Virtual simulation versus immersive virtual reality: What’s the difference? UbiSim Inc. https://www.ubisimvr.com/virtu...

Speakers

Speaker Image for Rebecca Cazzato
Faculty, Davenport University
Speaker Image for Heather Hunt
Heather Hunt, DNP, RN
RNPC Grant Coordinator and Liaison, Davenport University

Related Products

Thumbnail for Hit the Jackpot: Creating High Rollers in Your Ambulatory Care New Employee Orientation
Hit the Jackpot: Creating High Rollers in Your Ambulatory Care New Employee Orientation
As part of our organization’s Magnet journey to achieve nursing excellence, our ambulatory care education department had an opportunity to centralize and standardize new employee orientation (NEO) for clinical staff…
Thumbnail for Interdisciplinary Approach to Opioid Safety in Ambulatory Care
Interdisciplinary Approach to Opioid Safety in Ambulatory Care
The United States opioid crisis is considered a public health emergency due to the deaths associated with drug overdose, with more than 60% of deaths involving an opioid…
Thumbnail for Ambulatory Care Nightingales: COVID Response Discharge Unit
Ambulatory Care Nightingales: COVID Response Discharge Unit
Background: During the COVID-19 epidemic, UW Health Northern Illinois, SwedishAmerican, saw a rise in hospitalizations. The organization mobilized an ambulatory care nurse-led discharge unit to improve bed capacity management. This innovative solution was able to serve over 200 patients…
Thumbnail for Integrating Primary Care into BSN Clinical Experiences
Integrating Primary Care into BSN Clinical Experiences
Nurse leaders recognize that fundamental changes within nursing education curriculum are needed to support the quadruple aim and respond to the dynamic changes in healthcare (Bodenheimer & Sinskey, 2014; Palumbo, Rambur, & Hart, 2017)…
Privacy Policy Update: We value your privacy and want you to understand how your information is being used. To make sure you have current and accurate information about this sites privacy practices please visit the privacy center by clicking here.