Implementation and Evaluation of a Virtual Reality Simulation: Intravenous Injection Training System

Abstract

In nursing education, virtual reality simulation (VRS) is recognized as an effective learning method as it overcomes limitations in practical training and positively influences learning ability and satisfaction levels. The purpose of this study was to develop VRS for intravenous (IV) injection and investigate how it affects nursing students’ academic knowledge, performance confidence, and clinical practice competencies. A quasi-experimental control group pretest and post-test design was used. Participants were nursing students who either received a training system for an IV injection through VRS (experimental group; n = 20) or who received an IV arm simulator (control group; n = 20). The results revealed significantly higher knowledge (U = 156.5, p = 0.024) and clinical performance competency (U = 87.5, p = 0.002) with the procedure of using a training system of VRS for IV injection compared to having training via an IV arm simulator. This study verified that VRS for IV injection was more effective than an IV arm simulator for practical training on IV injection. Thus, VRS for IV injection, an effective teaching method used to improve learning ability and satisfaction levels, can be used as a training method in the future.