Background: As nurse practitioner (NP) programs expand in scope and complexity, students are expected to master increasingly nuanced consultation skills within limited timeframes. To support skill development in a scalable and engaging way, Ashley Scott is leading the design and evaluation of an innovative Virtual Reality (VR) simulation enhanced by Artificial Intelligence (AI). This immersive learning tool allows NP students to practice clinical consultation skills through realistic, interactive scenarios with virtual patients who respond dynamically to student input.
The project is part of a broader educational research program within the LEARN lab focused on developing, evaluating and refining emerging technologies in nursing education.
Purpose:
This project aims to evaluate the usability and educational impact of a novel VR simulation that uses AI to simulate patient dialogue and provide real-time feedback. The tool is designed to reduce performance anxiety, increase engagement, and improve clinical reasoning in preparation for OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations).
Methods:
The project is being conducted in two phases:
- Phase 1 – Usability Evaluation: This phase involves qualitative usability testing with nurse practitioner students using the System Usability Scale (SUS) and think-aloud methods to identify strengths and areas for improvement in the prototype.
- Phase 2 – Educational Impact: This phase measures changes in OSCE scores and cognitive load (NASA-TLX) in students who use the simulation compared to those using traditional preparation methods.
Our Research Questions are:
- How feasible is it to use an AI-driven VR simulation to support nurse practitioner students in preparing for OSCEs?
- How do NP students engage with the VR simulation, and how does it influence their study strategies in preparation for OSCEs?
- Does access to a VR simulation reduce students’ perceived cognitive load during OSCEs?
- Does access to a VR simulation impact students’ OSCE performance compared to traditional preparation methods?