Efficacy of Virtual Reality Teaching in Pressure Injury Wound Care Education for Nurses: A Quasi‐Experimental Study

Background Pressure injuries are a common clinical concern that lead to prolonged hospital stays and place a burden on health‐care systems and society. They are also a key indicator of nursing care quality. Pressure injury wound care can be taught by integrating 360° virtual reality (VR) technology into instruction. Doing so can address limitations in traditional skills training and enhance learning interactivity. Aim To determine the efficacy of 360° VR teaching on nurses' knowledge, clinical skills and self‐efficacy in pressure injury wound care. Methods This quasi‐experimental study was conducted from December 2023 to February 2024 on 114 nurses from a teaching hospital in central Taiwan. Participants were assigned to either an experimental or a control group through cluster sampling. The experimental group received 360° VR‐based instruction, whereas the control group received traditional classroom instruction. Preintervention and postintervention assessments were conducted to measure knowledge, skills and self‐efficacy in pressure injury care. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi‐squared tests, paired t ‐tests and independent‐samples t ‐tests. Results Baseline analysis revealed no significant differences between the experimental and control groups in sex, age or advanced nursing qualifications, except for a significant difference in work unit distribution. After the intervention, although no significant between‐group difference was observed in knowledge, the experimental group scored higher in pressure injury wound assessment. The scores for wound care skills and self‐efficacy significantly improved, particularly for wound dressing techniques, and cognitive gains positively affected self‐efficacy. Conclusions The findings support that implementing 360° VR teaching practices enhances nurses' skills and self‐efficacy in pressure injury wound care, particularly for wound dressing techniques, and cognitive gains positively affected self‐efficacy. Relevance to Clinical Practice Flexible 360° desktop VR simulations provide an accessible, low‐cost training modality that effectively bridges the gap between theoretical instruction and bedside wound care. By integrating interactive clinical scenarios into hospital‐based continuing professional education, this approach significantly enhances nurses' perceived competence in pressure injury wound assessment, dressing techniques and overall clinical self‐efficacy. Impact Statement This study demonstrates that immersive 360° desktop VR significantly outperforms conventional lecture‐based teaching in enhancing nurses' perceived procedural proficiency and clinical confidence. Adopting this accessible simulation approach within hospital education drives ongoing clinical competency, directly supporting the delivery of standardized wound care and improved patient safety outcomes.