Authors: Tiffani Chidume, DNP, RN, CHSE-A, CHSOS, FSSH, Judith Caroline Quick, DNP, RN, CCRN, Alexandra Feemster, MSN, RN, TCRN, CEN, CNE, Leora Wright, BHSc, CHSOS

While virtual reality (VR) simulations offer high-value clinical training, resource constraints like headset availability often limit their application with large student cohorts. This study evaluated the “Poll to Practice” model, an innovative classroom-based VR simulation where 96 junior undergraduate nursing students collectively directed an active myocardial infarction (MI) scenario using real-time polling.

Through a pre-post assessment design, survey findings demonstrated measurable increases in self-reported clinical confidence across all 12 evaluated items. Mean Likert scores improved overall, with the largest performance gains observed in overall MI preparedness (Δ = 0.859), medication administration (Δ = 0.730), and complication anticipation (Δ = 0.670). The authors concluded that instructor-facilitated, classroom-based VR simulation provides a highly scalable and cost-effective model that bridges theory and practice, significantly boosting student clinical confidence and judgment in high-acuity scenarios.

The full research article can be found here.

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