Transforming Nursing Education through Simulation for Nursing Students
In recent years, virtual reality (VR) has transformed from an interactive educational tool for pilots and an elevated source of entertainment for arcade lovers and home gamers to one of the most impactful tools for training healthcare professionals. VR's immersive capabilities offer unparalleled opportunities for experiential learning, which is particularly beneficial in fields requiring precise, high-stakes skills and deep empathy—like nursing. The Evolution of VR in Healthcare The use of VR in healthcare training dates back to the 1990s when medical teams began using it to plan and practice complex surgeries. VR's immersive environment allowed surgical teams to replicate real-life scenarios, learn from their mistakes, anticipate complications, and practice corrective actions, all before entering the operating room with a real patient. Over the past few decades, VR has expanded its applications to include treating post-traumatic stress disorder, managing severe pain, enha...