Immersive virtual reality in nursing didactic courses: Bringing the patient to the classroom to foster clinical judgment

Background: The new AACN Essentials calls for schools to develop students’ clinical judgment to be prepared for practice. Using immersive virtual reality (IVR) in didactic courses offers students opportunities outside of the simulation center to develop their clinical judgment. Sample: Sixty-one prelicensure students enrolled in an accelerated Master of Nursing program. Method: The authors implemented an IVR scenario with Debriefing for Meaningful Learning (DML), supported by the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM), in a didactic course. A pre- and post-test design was used to evaluate student confidence related to clinical judgment. Mental workload, usability of the technology, and student impressions were evaluated. Results: Students reported increased confidence in clinical judgment and providing care. Students perceived a high level of mental workload and low usability with IVR. Conclusion: IVR with DML debriefing, supported by the CJMM in a didactic course, positively impacted student confidence in clinical judgment and providing care.