Immersive VR Simulation Enhances Nursing Education at Seton Hall

With the support of Seton Hall’s Teaching, Learning and Technology Center (TLTC), more than 90 B.S. in Nursing (B.S.N.) students immersed themselves in a dynamic virtual simulation designed to prepare them for real-world emergency response scenarios. The interactive experience, held on Monday, April 7, demonstrated how virtual reality (VR) can make complex experiential learning accessible when cost, safety and logistics present barriers to traditional training.

In partnership with VictoryXR, a leading provider of VR educational experiences, Leslie Rippon, Ph.D., associate professor, M.S. in Athletic Training, The School of Health and Medical Sciences (SHMS), collaborated with Kristi Stinson, Ph.D., RN, APN, PNAP, interim dean, the College of Nursing (CON), who led the exercise as part of a capstone clinical course for B.S.N. students. The simulation, titled First Responder Mass Triage Training in VR, recreated a mass casualty incident in which a vehicle crashes into a campus cafeteria.

"This immersive experience was provided to senior traditional B.S.N. students during their Synthesis Seminar course," noted Stinson. "Healthcare is collaborative and innovative, and the VR experience showed this to our nursing students firsthand while building their confidence in communication and prioritization." 

The event was held at the Interprofessional Health Sciences campus in Nutley — home to Seton Hall’s CON and SHMS. The campus features an award-winning simulation center to help nursing and health professions students practice real-to-life healthcare scenarios in preparation for their future clinical rotations and careers.

The TLTC played a critical role by supplying Meta Quest Pro VR headsets and providing hands-on technical support to ensure a smooth and immersive experience for students. This collaboration allowed students to fully engage in the virtual environment, where they applied emergency response protocols to assess individuals, prioritize care and communicate effectively under pressure — all within a safe and immersive learning platform. It showcased the power of academic-technology partnerships to expand what’s possible in nursing education.

Faculty looking to integrate virtual reality into their courses are encouraged to connect with Renee M. Cicchino, director of instructional technology, and participate in upcoming TLTC Summer Series events dedicated to immersive learning at Seton Hall. Keep an eye out for registration details coming soon.

Categories: Science and Technology