Nursing Faculty Receives Dean’s Scholar Award for VR Medication Training Videos
The College of Nursing continues to lead innovation by integrating cutting-edge technology into its curriculum to better equip students for the demands of modern health care. This year’s Dean’s Scholar Award winner, Chantal Skon, MSN, RN, CNE, CHSE, a simulation nurse faculty member and lecturer, is leading an initiative that leverages virtual reality (VR) to enhance nursing student competence in medication administration. The award funds innovative pilot projects that align with the College of Nursing’s strategic priorities and goals, which include increasing student success, expanding community partnerships, and ensuring innovative nursing education.
Skon’s project, Enhancing Nursing Student Competence Through VR-Compatible Expert Modeling Videos, addresses new nurses' critical challenge: mastering safe and efficient medication administration. “Many newly graduated nurses report difficulties in this area, which can lead to increased stress and potential patient safety concerns, said Skon. “Using Virtual Reality-Compatible Expert Modeling Videos (VR-EMV), this initiative will provide nursing students with an immersive, situational, hands-on learning experience that strengthens their skills and builds confidence.”
Simulation training has been an essential component of nursing education for many years, enabling nursing students to practice realistic clinical scenarios without the risks associated with real-life situations. Students now also benefit from a fully immersive 360-degree video-based virtual reality (VR) environment, engaging in various care scenarios, including labor and delivery simulations and challenging patient interactions. With this new introduction of VR-EMV for medication administration, students can observe an expert nurse performing proper essential tasks, such as calculating dosages, preparing medications, and safely administering them in a validated and repeatable format. After observing VR-EMV, students then practice these skills in a simulated scenario with a simulated patient, thus preparing them for a real clinical setting with actual patients.
Skon’s project is a collaborative effort that brings together experts from various disciplines. She will collaborate with simulation nurses and technicians from the College of Nursing, including Janine Hinton, PhD, MN, RN, CHSE, along with those from UA Information Technology Services and college instructional designers. Additionally, clinical nurse specialists from Tucson’s Banner University Medical Center will contribute their real-world expertise to ensure that the VR-EMV training reflects best practices in medication administration.
Brian Ahn, PhD, dean of the College of Nursing, stated, “Innovation in nursing education is crucial for preparing our students to face real-world clinical challenges. Skon’s project demonstrates the college’s commitment to utilizing cutting-edge technology to enhance student learning and patient safety. By incorporating virtual reality into medication administration training, we are equipping future nurses with the confidence and skills they need to excel in their careers and provide exceptional care.”
Skon's supervisor, Janine Hinton, states, “Our motivation is to help students develop their skills, gain valuable experience, and enhance their readiness to work confidently and independently. Skon's project achieves this by providing students with the opportunity to observe medication administration in a safe, immersive environment. This helps ensure they enter the workforce with greater confidence and competence.”
The impact of this initiative is substantial. Nursing students often report that simulation training enhances their confidence and allows them to apply theoretical knowledge to real-life situations. For instance, one nursing student mentioned that the skills she acquired through simulations were invaluable to her education. During her preceptorship, a lead nurse asked her to gather supplies. Because she had practiced with these items in simulations, she knew exactly what to look for and could find them quickly without wasting time searching.
The VR-EMV project improves student learning by providing immersive and repeated exposure to expert modeling of medication administration before simulation scenarios. Practicing in a stress-free environment allows students to refine their techniques, reduce anxiety, and enhance their readiness for clinical practice. By the time they administer medications to actual patients, they will have gained significant experience in a controlled setting.
As the College of Nursing continues integrating technology, such as VR and AI, into its curriculum, projects like Skon’s VR-EMV initiative highlight the institution’s commitment to preparing the next generation of nurses for the complexities of modern health care. By incorporating advanced technology into nursing education, students will graduate with theoretical knowledge and practical hands-on experience, making them more competent and confident practitioners from day one.