Authors: Bethany Cieslowski, DNP, CHSE, RN, Tanya Haas, DNP, RN, Kyeung Mi Oh, PhD, MSN, RN, Kathleen Chang, DNP, RN, NE-BC, Cheryl A. Oetjen, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

Nursing programs face mounting enrollment barriers due to faculty shortages and scarce clinical site placements. To address these limitations, researchers conducted a mixed-methods quasi-experimental pilot study evaluating immersive virtual reality (IVR) as a replacement for traditional pediatric clinical practice.

A convenience sample of 48 junior prelicensure nursing students was split evenly into an IVR training group  and a control group receiving standard hospital-based inpatient clinical training. Following training, both groups completed an in-person simulation to benchmark performance outcomes. Total performance scores for the IVR group were significantly higher than those of the hospital-trained cohort. Qualitative feedback from focus groups reinforced these quantitative findings, highlighting that IVR delivered realistic, realistic scenarios while building core clinical knowledge.

The authors concluded that IVR simulation offers a scalable, highly effective strategy to optimize learning, enhance engagement, and ensure clinical competency in future nursing graduates.

The full research article can be found here.

George Mason University has used the SimX platform in its simulation training.