Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Experiences and Perceptions of Self-Efficacy in Virtual Reality Simulations

Abstract

Immersive virtual reality (VR) simulations are gaining prominence in undergraduate nursing education because they (a) can mimic the dynamism of clinical settings for students, (b) enable educators to scaffold theory-practice integration and multiple skill development, and (c) provide programs with a cost-effective curricular solution for supporting clinical practice-readiness. In this paper, we investigate first- and second-year nursing students’ experiences with Simulation Learning System with Virtual Reality (SLS with VR) during a 7-week study in Fall 2020 and assess change in their self-efficacy from pre-post. An inductive thematic analysis of students’ responses revealed that they experienced a heightened sense of engagement in VR, and SLS with VR afforded roleplaying in authentic clinical situations. A statistically significant improvement was found in students' ratings of self-efficacy variables such as their understanding of content, ability to make clinical judgments, caring for patients, working in teams, and ensuring safety and quality in clinical situations. These findings contribute to a growing body of literature that is focused on supporting nursing education stakeholders to understand and embrace the effectiveness of VR in preparing future nurses for patient well-being and the complexities of health care settings.