Nurse Educators Lead the Way with Virtual Reality Training for Nursing Students

In response to a national shortage of clinical training sites, Bow Valley College's Practical Nursing program is pioneering virtual reality (VR) simulation to help bridge the gap in hands-on experience for nursing.  

Program Chairs Clare Howland and Melissa Bruce have led the charge, enabling students to complete up to 30% of their clinical hours through high-quality simulation-based activities. The initiative Howland and Bruce are leading provides a sustainable and immersive alternative to traditional, resource-intensive mannequin-based simulations, meeting the program's need to prepare hundreds of students each semester for real-world healthcare challenges.

"Every semester, we're tasked with placing more than 700 students in clinical settings," said Clare Howland. “That's a big demand on our health care system. But the healthcare system needs these nurses, and it needs graduates who are well prepared to meet the demands of our system. This is where simulation, especially VR, comes in.” 

To support the effort, Bow Valley College has adopted UbiSim, an innovative VR training platform specifically designed for nursing education. This technology allows students to safely practice clinical scenarios that mirror real-life situations, building confidence and competence before they engage with actual patients. Recently, CTV Calgary highlighted Bow Valley College’s successful integration of VR as a training tool.

"The more scenarios and more experience you have under your belt as a nurse, the better equipped you are to deal with and handle the stress in the hospital setting," says Bruce.

Euphemia Ezuma, a final-term nursing student, shared her experience with UbiSim: “I was nervous going to clinicals, working with real patients. But VR reduced the tension and helped me feel prepared for what to do in a real clinical situation. It's calmed my nerves and let me know that I’ve got this.”

As the college explores expanding VR's role in the curriculum, Clare Howland is conducting research to compare VR and traditional manikin-based simulations, evaluating their effectiveness in preparing students for clinical practice. Her research aims to address:

• Key similarities and differences between VR and manikin-based simulations.

• Preliminary findings on participant outcomes across each simulation modality.

• Recommendations for future simulation integration based on a comprehensive needs assessment.

Clare Howland will present her latest research findings at ATI's 2025 National Nurse Educator Summit, where she will discuss how VR is shaping the future of nursing education.

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