Extended Reality in Health Care Simulation

Abstract

Background: – Extended reality (XR) technologies are increasingly integrated into health care simulations. XR enables immersive, interactive, and multisensory learning experiences that enhance skill acquisition, knowledge retention, and interprofessional collaboration. Problem: – Despite growing interest, educators should address challenges, such as cognitive load management, inconsistent standards, accessibility barriers, and cost-effectiveness, to optimize the potential of XR. Approach: – The authors in this Technology Overview synthesize evidence and provide expert discussion to explore the current state, challenges, and future directions of XR. Outcomes: – The resulting recommendations highlight best practices in XR integration, including guidance on modality selection, curricular alignment, strategies to minimize cognitive overload, and future trends. Conclusions: – XR has the potential to enhance nursing and health care education by supporting immersive, scalable, and learner-centered experiences. The future of XR depends on strategic efforts to enhance realism, usability, and integration. Priorities include intuitive design, adaptive artificial intelligence, advanced haptics, cost-effectiveness, and improved accessibility to support learning.