Virtual Reality Simulation's Influence on Nursing Students' Anxiety and Communication Skills With Anxious Patients: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Anxiety is the most prevalent mental health disorder in the United States and globally. Nurses do not feel adequately prepared to care for anxious patients, citing a lack of education in effective communication skills. Ineffective communication can negatively influence the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship and patient outcomes. Simulation methods such as high-fidelity simulation and standardized patients have decreased nursing students’ anxiety levels in caring for anxious patients. The use of full immersion virtual reality simulation as an education modality has demonstrated success in nonhealthcare and medical education but is limited in nursing education. Sample: Thirty-three nursing students from two accredited registered nurse programs. Methods: A quasi-experimental design implementing an anxious patient scenario in full immersion virtual reality simulation was utilized. Spielberger's short-form State Anxiety Inventory assessed students’ anxiety levels, while the simulation's analytics dashboard evaluated their communication skills. Results: A statistically significant decrease in students’ anxiety levels over time was found. Participants’ communication scores did not demonstrate significance. Conclusion: Full immersion VRS demonstrated a decrease in students’ anxiety levels. This study was the first to utilize the simulation's analytics dashboard to evaluate communication skills.