Incorporating VR into nurse education can deepen learning, enhance engagement, and build clinical skills in a safe, controlled environment. Follow these guidelines to ensure UbiSim VR nurse training sessions are productive, safe, and well-organized.
UbiSim - Nurse VR Training Software: UbiSim is an immersive VR training software that offers interactive scenarios tailored to nursing students, allowing them to practice patient care and critical thinking in a realistic setting. All VR headsets supporting the nursing program include the latest version of UbiSim software. UbiSim is not installed on Library headsets.
UbiSim requires individual software licenses for each student. Students will be required to log in using their Ubisim associated email address in order to access simulations.
Contact your VR program lead or nursing director to learn more about UbiSim software or licensing.
Choose Appropriate Content: Select VR simulations that meet specific nursing curriculum goals and learning objectives. Review available UbiSim scenarios to ensure they align with student skill levels and clinical competencies.
Allow Time for Hardware Set-Up: Nursing headsets are managed through a mobile device management system that guides students through setup, including adjusting head straps and lenses. This process usually takes about 5 minutes. Plan for this time to help students become comfortable with the hardware, reducing distractions and creating a smoother transition into the training session.
Prepare the Classroom: UbiSim works both in a seated and standing position. However, standing is preferred. Create a safe, spacious environment for VR use by allocating at least 5’ x 5’ per student. This space prevents students from bumping into walls or equipment and allows for natural movement, especially useful for patient-care simulations. Testing simulations in advance will help determine the best position for each scenario.
Encourage Pairing and Small Groups: Running VR simulations in pairs or small groups can streamline setup time and foster collaboration. Pairing students in clinical training encourages discussion, joint problem-solving, and peer learning. Small group rotations allow each student to engage in the scenario and observe others’ techniques, which can broaden their learning experience.
Reflection and Discussion: After the VR session, set aside time for a debrief to help students process their experience. UbiSim’s realistic simulations can stimulate critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills, which are strengthened by group discussions. Reflecting on what they learned, sharing insights, and analyzing decisions made during the simulation can deepen their understanding of patient care concepts.
Use Screen Casting for Group Engagement: Enable screencasting to project the simulation onto a nearby TV or projector, allowing the entire class to observe and participate in a group discussion. Seeing the simulation in real time encourages peer feedback, boosts engagement, and provides an opportunity for instructors to point out key moments or actions within the scenario.
Refer to the ‘Screen Casting’ section of this guide for setup instructions.
Ensure Devices are Fully Charged: If returned to the cart properly by the last group of users, devices should be charged, but double-check to avoid interruptions. Verify each headset is connected to its USB cable within the charging cart, and that the cart is plugged into a wall outlet for at least two hours before use.
Clean and Charge: Keep devices ready for future sessions with a quick cleaning routine. Use alcohol wipes on headset lenses and a non-corrosive cleaner (like Windex or Simple Green) for the body. Once cleaned, encourage students to reconnect each device to a USB cable when returning them to the cart. VR devices take 1-2 hours to fully charge.