Why Nursing Educators Will Continue Using
Virtual Simulation After the Pandemic

INTRODUCTION: Nursing faculty recognized very quickly that virtual simulations are here to stay. Early last year nursing programs scrambled to find suitable clinical replacements. During the pandemic, nursing faculty relied heavily on virtual sims, oftentimes with no experience or prior exposure. Despite this need to pivot faculty got very creative (Musa et al., in press). Students thrived in this new environment and found it was a suitable clinical replacement (Verkuyl, et al. 2021). Regulative nursing bodies are beginning to accept the use of virtual simulation akin to the early days of high-fidelity simulation. The data is just beginning to emerge on recommendations for best practice.

PURPOSE: This webinar will focus on emerging ideas on the use of virtual simulations to enhance nursing curricula and learning outcomes.

QUESTIONS UNDER CONSIDERATION: Why should we use virtual simulations)? Where do they fit best in the curriculum? Are Virtual Simulations a replacement for clinical simulation? What’s the best way to debrief a virtual sim?

DISCUSSION: The most obvious reason to use virtual simulators is to deliver content in a remote asynchronous environment. Virtual simulation in healthcare allow learners to move at their own pace. This is an attractive concept in competency-based programs. This is critical as we begin to adopt and understand how the new AACN Essentials (2021) impact pre-licensure or entry-level professional nursing education. Like manikin simulation, the virtual simulation offers the ability to experience high-risk, low volumes situations. Virtual Sims provide a psychologically safe environment, and the opportunity to “do it again”. HFS has its drawbacks, there is a dearth of qualified simulation facilitators.

The high fidelity patient manikin technology is expensive and requires ongoing maintenance. Most importantly the technology has limitations in depicting realistic features and symptomology, what you gain in dimensionality you lose in dynamic imagery (Gonzalez et al. 2020). One area that requires additional exploration is how to effectively debrief students in the virtual sim. If you use the virtual simulation for the convenience of remote asynchronous learning it is a challenge to have meaningful, in-time debrief.

This webinar will demonstrate virtual simulation through the use of Sentinel U.