Hospital touts benefits of virtual reality training for nurses

Editor's Note

Virtual reality is making training more immersive for nurses at SSM Health St Mary’s Hospital in Janesville, Wisconsin, according to a September 11 article in GazetteXtra.

Although a first for St Mary’s, virtual reality has already been adopted by other SSM Health facilities, the outlet reports. Donning googles and using controllers to explore virtual spaces projected on-screen is said to make training more immersive by enabling staff to try their hand at real-world medical scenarios without real-world stakes. Examples from across the SSM Health system include motor vehicle accidents, COVID-19 triage, pediatric advanced life support, and heart attacks. These scenarios can be conducted individually or in groups, with the option for nurses across multiple locations to collaborate virtually.

And while the VR training will not replace mannequin-based simulations, it adds realism to learning, hospital sources told GazetteXtra. Sessions can be recorded and reviewed for debriefing, allowing staff to reflect on areas for improvement. SSM Health also plans to develop custom scenarios specific to the Janesville location.