Virtual reality versus traditional methods in nursing competency development: A Rapid Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/gr2025111Keywords:
Nursing Student, Virtual Reality, Simulation, High-reliability simulation, Skills, Traditional methodsAbstract
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has required a readaptation of teaching methods. This readaptation, together with the exponential growth of technology in recent years, has brought about a possible new way of teaching nursing, using virtual reality. By analyzing this new approach, we will be able to understand whether this new methodology has advantages for being adapted to current teaching.
Objective: to map the evidence on the contribution of virtual reality to the development of both clinical and instrumental skills in nursing students compared to traditional methods.
Methods: A rapid review was carried out with research carried out between March 2023 and May 2023. The Business Source Complete [EBSCO], National Institutes of Health [NIH] and B-ON platforms were used to carry out the research. To assess the quality of the articles, we used the JBI guideline.
Results: Six articles of quasi-experimental and systematic review typology were analyzed.
The use of virtual reality allows students to develop their nursing skills in a dynamic, interactive and safe way. The results can be enhanced when combined with high-fidelity simulation.
Conclusions: This Rapid Review demonstrates how Virtual Reality can be used in nursing education, understanding its benefits in terms of clinical and personal skills. However, it also recognizes the difficulties that may limit the use of Virtual Reality and the need for greater scientific evidence that is less randomized.
References
1. Tori R, Kirner C, Siscoutto RA. Fundamentos e tecnologia de realidade virtual e aumentada. Porto Alegre: Editora SBC; 2006.
2. Netto AV, Machado LD, Oliveira MC. Realidade virtual-definições, dispositivos e aplicações. Universidade de São Paulo; 2000. [cited 2025 Mar 16]; Available from: https://repositorio.usp.br/directbitstream/eea56bbf-fdf6-4a65-9681-47497e5d3544/ND_54.pdf
3. Al Rawashdeh AZ, Mohammed EY, Al Arab AR, Alara M, Al-Rawashdeh B. Advantages and disadvantages of using e-learning in university education: Analyzing students’ perspectives. Electron. J. e-Learn. 2021 [cited 2025 Mar 16]; 19(3):107-17. Available from: www.ejel.org
4. Cunha CR, Martins C, Mendonça V. Using extended reality in experiential learning for hospitality management education. Procedia Comput. Sci. 2023 Jan 1;219:634-41.
5. Burdea GC, Coiffet P. Virtual reality technology. Int. J. e-Collab. 2006 Jan;2(1):61-4.
6. Filho IMM, Carneiro KK, dos Santos OP, Arantes AA, Félis KC, Guilherme IS. Simulação realística como instrumento no processo de ensino-aprendizagem de enfermagem. Revisa. 2019 Nov 1;8(3):273-84.
7. Semião D, Tinoca L. A utilização das tecnologias digitais nas aulas do século XXI. Rev. Educ. Quest. 2021 Jul;59(61),25689. https://doi.org/10.21680/1981-1802.2021v59n61id25689
8. Marques HR, Campos AC, Andrade DM, Zambalde AL. Inovação no ensino: uma revisão sistemática das metodologias ativas de ensino-aprendizagem. Avaliação. 2021 Sep;26(3):718–41. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1414-40772021000300005
9. Dobbins M. Rapid review guidebook. Natl Collab Cent Method Tools. 2017 [cited 2025 Mar 16]; 13:25. Available from: https://www.nccmt.ca/uploads/media/media/0001/02/800fe34eaedbad09edf80ad5081b9291acf1c0c2.pdf
10. Garritty C, Hamel C, Trivella M, Gartlehner G, Nussbaumer-Streit B, Devane D, et al. Updated recommendations for the Cochrane rapid review methods guidance for rapid reviews of effectiveness. BMJ [Internet]. 2024 Feb 6 [cited 2025 mar 15];e076335. Available from: https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2023-076335
11. 15. Sousa LMM de, Firmino CF, Marques-Vieira CMA, Severino SSP, Pestana HCFC. Revisões da literatura científica: tipos, métodos e aplicações em enfermagem. Rev Port Enferm Reabil. 2018 [cited 2025 mar 15];1(1):45–55. Available from: https://rper.aper.pt/index.php/rper/article/view/20
12. Joanna Briggs Institute. Critical Appraisal Tools [Internet]. JBI. 2020[cited 2025 mar 15]. Available from: https://jbi.global/critical-appraisal-tools
13. Camp S, Legge T. Simulation as a tool for clinical remediation: An integrative review. Clin Simul Nurs. 2018 Mar 1;16:48-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2017.11.003
14. Azizi M, Ramezani G, Karimi E, Hayat AA, Faghihi SA, Keshavarzi MH. A comparison of the effects of teaching through simulation and the traditional method on nursing students’ self-efficacy skills and clinical performance: a quasi-experimental study. BMC Nurs. 2022 Oct 20;21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-022-01065-z
15. Jallad ST, Işık B. The effectiveness of virtual reality simulation as learning strategy in the acquisition of medical skills in nursing education: a systematic review. Ir J Med Sci. 2021 Jul 5; 191(3): 1407–1426. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-021-02695-z
16. Labrague LJ, McEnroe-Petitte DM, Bowling AM, Nwafor CE, Tsaras K. High-fidelity simulation and nursing students’ anxiety and self-confidence: A systematic review. Nurs Forum. 2019 Mar 10;54(3): 358–368. https://doi.org/10.1111/nuf.12337.
17. Park S, Hur HK, Chung C. Learning effects of virtual versus high-fidelity simulations in nursing students: a crossover comparison. BMC Nurs. 2022 Apr 27;21(1): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-022-00878-2
18. Ashouri E, Sheikhaboumasoudi R, Bagheri M, Hosseini S, Elahi N. Improving nursing students’ learning outcomes in fundamentals of nursing course through combination of traditional and e-learning methods. Iran. J. Nurs. Res. 2018;23(3):217-21. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_79_17
19. Widiasih R, Komariah M, Pramukti I, Susanti RD, Agustina HS, Arifin H, et al. VNursLab 3D Simulator: A Web-Based Nursing Skills Simulation of Knowledge of Nursing Skill, Satisfaction, and Self-Confidence among Nursing Students. Sustainability. 2022 Apr 19;14(9):4882. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094882
20. Nielsen B, Harder N. Causes of Student Anxiety during Simulation: What the Literature Says. Clin Simul Nurs. 2013 Nov;9(11):e507–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2013.03.003
21. Hollenbach PM. Simulation and Its Effect on Anxiety in Baccalaureate Nursing Students. Nurs Educ Perspect. 2016;37(1):45-47. https://doi.org/10.5480/13-1279
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Daniel Barros, Ricardo Mestre, Susana Valido, Isabel Rabiais, Sandy Severino, Luís Sousa, Helena José (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The article is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Unless otherwise stated, associated published material is distributed under the same licence.
