Innovative Learning with Escape Rooms in Simulations, Technologies, and Pedagogical Impact in Healthcare Education: An Integrated Review

Nursing education is a continuous process of innovation that improves learning and prepares students for new challenges. However, traditional methods have limited interactive learning escape rooms (ERs), which play a significant role in nursing and medicine education. These ERs are designed for the students to enhance active learning and problem-solving. ERs are dual learning experiences which have been distinctly designed to engage students in hands-on and experiential learning. In addition, ERs have pedagogical impact on improving critical thinking, clinical reasoning, teamwork, and soft skills in nursing students. Advanced technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence are used to improve simulation fidelity and adapt learning to individual needs in real time. There are a few challenges of ERs, such as technical issues, limited survey data, and narrow focus, which need further research and innovation. Future recommendations for optimizing ERs are implementing multidisciplinary approaches, standardized evaluation metrics, and enhancing scalability for global accessibility. Educational institutions can promote more engaging, cost-effective, and impactful learning experiences for future healthcare professionals. This review emphasizes the importance of ERs in nursing and medical curriculum to connect theoretical knowledge and clinical practice, which will improve patient care outcomes.