Authors: Pamela R. Short, PhD; William Stuart Pope, EdD; Chih-hsuan Wang, PhD; Karol Renfroe, DNP; Leora Wright, MSN; Tiffani Chidume, DNP

Securing clinical sites that expose nursing students to complex psychiatric cases remains a persistent challenge. To address this gap, researchers integrated virtual reality simulation (VRS) into an undergraduate mental health course, immersing students in a realistic scenario involving a patient experiencing a manic episode with suicidal ideation.

Using the Simulation Effectiveness Tool-Modified (SET-M), the study measured student self-efficacy, clinical judgment, and therapeutic communication. Results showed that VRS significantly enhanced student performance, with over 88% reporting increased confidence in managing bipolar disorder. Additionally, 90% cited the structured debriefing as vital for reflection and skill retention.

Ultimately, VRS proves to be a transformative tool for psychiatric training, giving students safe, repeatable practice in high-stakes communication without risking patient safety.

The full research article can be found here.

Auburn University has used the SimX platform in its simulation training.