Virtual Reality-Based Simulation for Nursing Practicum (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic changed clinical practicum for nursing students, particularly in mental health nursing, due to infection risks leading to cancellations. To address this, online and VR simulations emerged as alternatives, appealing to digital-native preferences. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate a VR-based mental health nursing simulation program. METHODS Employing a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design, the study was conducted within nursing education institutions. Fifty-four fourth-grade nursing students, with theoretical knowledge but lacking clinical experience, participated after providing informed consent. The program, comprising six thematic modules simulating real-world scenarios, was assessed using repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS The results indicated significant improvements in mental disease-related knowledge, learning flow, and satisfaction. The program effectively bridged the gap between theoretical and practical learning, boosting students' abilities and confidence in patient interaction and therapeutic nursing interventions. CONCLUSIONS The simulation education program served as an effective intermediary between theoretical learning and practical application, offering students a valuable educational space. By enhancing students' ability and confidence to engage with patients and deliver therapeutic nursing interventions, the program demonstrated its potential to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world clinical practice in mental health nursing.