Bow Valley College’s ViTAL Study Gains National Recognition at SIM Expo

Bow Valley College’s ViTALS research team members, Clare Howland and Melissa Bruce, Program Chairs, School of Health and Wellness presented at SIM Expo on November 3.

SIM Expo is Canada’s premier gathering of simulation enthusiasts including clinicians, researchers, and educators. It is a unique, annual opportunity for great minds in healthcare simulation to collaborate and share knowledge to advance simulation best practices. The invitation to present at such a large national forum is indeed a significant recognition of the College’s innovation in nursing education.

This comparative study explored students’ perceptions of how virtual reality (VR) compares with high-fidelity (HF) mannequin-based simulation, the long-standing gold standard in nursing education. The study confirmed that, from the students’ perspective, VR performed just as well as HF in supporting confidence, learning, and readiness for clinical practice.

These findings highlight VR’s potential to deliver comparable educational outcomes while offering flexible, scalable, and cost-effective options for experiential learning. For institutions seeking to maximize impact and manage resources, VR presents a compelling alternative.

“We always believed in VR’s potential, and now the research shows it can truly deliver comparable learning outcomes”, shared Clare and Melissa. From the students’ perspective, VR is just as effective and, in some areas, even better than high-fidelity simulation.

The researchers acknowledge Applied Research team members, Kakali Majumdar, Research Facilitator, Health & HTech; and Amos Kafata, Research Data Specialist for their expertise and support in research project development, and data collection/analysis of results.

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