Abstract:
The College of Nursing at the University of Manitoba is excited to share an in-depth guide on incorporating virtual reality (VR) into healthcare education, highlighting the success of our expanded undergraduate nursing program that now includes over 1000 students. In this program, each student engages in 108 clinical hours of simulation, with a significant portion (one-third) dedicated to VR experiences in UbiSim. Over the past four semesters, students have spent more than 2400 hours in VR simulations, underscoring our dedication to cutting-edge and immersive learning.
This presentation will cover various facets of VR integration, such as understanding the necessary equipment, choosing the right VR platform, fostering solid relationships with IT departments, and implementing effective strategies for onboarding faculty and students. It also emphasizes the importance of maintaining persistence and patience throughout the process. Ongoing evaluation of the VR program will also be discussed.
Looking to the future, the presentation will outline the potential advancements of VR in healthcare education, with the goal of improving patient care and outcomes. The University of Manitoba is convinced of VR’s transformative role in both nursing education and practice. We extend an invitation to others to gain insights from our experiences and knowledge, equipping them with the necessary resources and understanding to maximize the use of VR in healthcare education.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify and describe the essential equipment, VR platform, and technological requirements for implementing VR in healthcare education.
- Understand the unique challenges and opportunities presented by VR technology in healthcare education and explore how to address common concerns and opportunities to improve clinical outcomes.
- Envision and plan for the future of VR, including how it can continuously be improved and expanded to enhance patient care and outcomes.