The Effects of Virtual Reality Simulation as a Teaching Strategy for Skills Preparation in Nursing Students

Background Advancements in virtual reality simulation hold promise for new instructional strategies for basic nursing skills. Method Virtual reality simulation was designed to support Foley catheter skill proficiency in students with an associate's degree in nursing. An after-only experimental design was used to evaluate skill performance scores, perceived preparation, and practice time in minutes. Results Independent-samples t test revealed no statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups; however, mean differences revealed positive trends. Conclusion Findings from this study support use of virtual reality simulation as a supplemental tool for teaching students critical steps in clinical skills such as the insertion of a Foley catheter.