Auditorium Presentation

Virtual Reality: A Practical Use of Simulation in Skill Development in Nursing and Allied Health Education

Virginia Barker
Plattsburgh State University of New York
 
Abstract:

Faculty of the Department of Nursing at Plattsburgh State University of New York, working with HT Medical Systems, Inc. (HT Medical), a leading developer of virtual reality simulations for medical education, have developed CathSim(tm). This is a virtual reality simulation used to teach students in nursing, medicine and allied health how to perform venipuncture.

Faculty were concerned over the risks, both to patients and students, when teaching invasive procedures. Existing teaching tools were inadequate to give the real feel of human tissue. Thus virtual reality simulation offered a realistic, danger free way of giving students an opportunity to develop skill in performing invasive procedures without practicing on patients.

Venipunctures was selected as the first technique to be simulated because:

• it is the most commonly performed invasive procedure executed by a wide variety of healthcare workers with varied backgrounds;
• if performed inaccurately, it can have severe consequences for the patient and/or healthcare worker.

The first simulator was installed in the Damianos Nursing Skills Laboratory in 1995. The cognitive portion of the simulation contains six patient scenarios requiring the student to make decisions regarding the institution of the prescribed intravenous therapy. When the student manipulates the input device to insert the needle into the "patient," two force feedback fields simulate first the pressure of a needle penetrating the skin and secondly, the feel of a needle entering a vein. The actual position of the needle with relation to the vein is also shown in an inset on the monitor.

In March, 1998, the CathSim(tm), using a Pentium PC was offered to educational programs in the United States and abroad. Educational institutions and healthcare agencies in the United State and other countries are beginning to use this simulation.

Faculty at Plattsburgh State University of New York are evaluating the use of the CathSim(tm) for realism, effectiveness in teaching, student level of self-confidence in performing the procedure and patient's comfort level. Additional areas being studied include a comparison of conventional teaching methods versus virtual reality simulation. Educational institutions and healthcare agencies across the United States are participating in this evaluation.

Experience shows us that there are four conditions which must be met in order for virtual reality simulations to move from the research and development laboratory to the classroom: faculty involvement, student cooperation, affordable equipment and administrative support. It is realistic to believe this can happen and at Plattsburgh State University of New York we have shown the way.

Benefit in Attending Session:

The audience will learn:

1. 1. how a virtual reality simulation for venipuncture was developed in the research setting and moved into a teaching laboratory.
2. 2. how the simulation is being used in curricula.
3. 3. the level of student skill development and patient comfort level reached using the VR simulation.

Virginia Barker
Plattsburgh State University of New York
400 Sibley Hall
101 Broad Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
 
(518) 564-3066
Fax Number:
(518) 564-4069
BARKERVL@splava.cc.plattsburgh.edu