Comparing In-Person With Online Virtual Reality Immersion: Fostering Nursing Students' Perceptions of Care and Caring

• In Event: AERA Virtual Poster Session
  In Virtual Poster Session: SIG-Design and Technology Virtual Poster Session

Abstract

This study compares the impact of Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) in an online and in-person course on nursing students’ self-perceptions of readiness to provide end-of-life care. Specifically to understand how IVR-modality impacts students’ perceptions of comfort, experience, and confidence in providing end-of-life care, and perceptions of empathy and preparation for the nursing profession. Two cohorts of nursing students at a 4-year-public university completed the same simulation. The 2019 cohort participated in-person. The 2020 cohort participated online via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In-person participants demonstrated statistically significant gains in perceptions of comfort, experience, confidence, empathy, and preparation. Zoom participants demonstrated statistically significant gains in perception of confidence. Due to small sample size, further study of online IVR-delivery is needed.

Authors

• Megan N. Eberhardt-Alstot, California State University - Channel Islands
  Presenting Author

• Jaime Hannans, California State University - Channel Islands
  Presenting Author

• Colleen Nevins
  Presenting Author