Virtual reality and immersive simulation in the learning of clinical skills
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56200/mentor.v5i15.13655Keywords:
virtual reality, immersive simulation, clinical skills, health professions education, clinical simulationAbstract
Virtual reality and immersive simulation were progressively incorporated into clinical education as resources for practicing procedures, making decisions, and communicating in safe and repeatable environments. The objective was to analyze evidence regarding their contribution to clinical skills learning among health sciences students, considering cognitive, psychomotor, and relational outcomes as well as implementation conditions. A narrative and analytical documentary review of literature published mainly between 2020 and 2026 was conducted. The analysis showed frequent benefits in knowledge acquisition, procedural performance, self-confidence, satisfaction, and repeated practice, particularly when scenarios incorporated clear objectives, feedback, and sufficient interaction. However, superiority over conventional methods was not consistent; clinical reasoning, communication, and transfer to real practice showed more heterogeneous results. Limitations related to cognitive load, physical effects, costs, equipment, and limited assessment of long-term outcomes were also identified. It was concluded that these technologies performed better as complements to simulation and clinical practice than as independent substitutes.
Downloads
References
Alsharari, A. F., Salihu, D., & Alshammari, F. F. (2025). Effectiveness of virtual clinical learning in nursing education: A systematic review. BMC Nursing, 24, 432. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03076-y
Azher, S., Mills, A., He, J., Hyjazie, T., Tokuno, J., Quaiattini, A., & Harley, J. M. (2024). Findings favor haptics feedback in virtual simulation surgical education: An updated systematic and scoping review. Surgical Innovation, 31(3), 331–341. https://doi.org/10.1177/15533506241238263
Baethge, C., Goldbeck-Wood, S., & Mertens, S. (2019). SANRA—A scale for the quality assessment of narrative review articles. Research Integrity and Peer Review, 4, 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41073-019-0064-8
Biyik Bayram, S., Gülnar, E., Çalişkan, N., Özyurt, H., & Bayram, A. (2026). The effect of virtual simulation of parenteral medication administration on nursing students’ knowledge and skills: A randomized controlled experimental study. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/CIN.0000000000001581
Bodur, G., Turhan, Z., Altun, Y. E., Kilicaslan, K., Alikan, B., Özer, F., & Can, G. (2025). Evaluating the effectiveness of virtual reality simulation in CPR training for nursing students: A randomized controlled trial. Nurse Education in Practice, 87, 104486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2025.104486
Bonnin, C., Pejoan, D., Ranvial, E., Marchat, M., Andrieux, N., Fourcade, L., & Perrochon, A. (2023). Immersive virtual patient simulation compared with traditional education for clinical reasoning: A pilot randomised controlled study. Journal of Visual Communication in Medicine, 46(2), 66–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/17453054.2023.2216243
Chang, Y.-Y., Chao, L.-F., Chang, W., Lin, C.-M., Lee, Y.-H., Latimer, A., & Chung, M. L. (2024). Impact of an immersive virtual reality simulator education program on nursing students’ intravenous injection administration: A mixed methods study. Nurse Education Today, 132, 106002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2023.106002
Cho, M.-K., & Kim, M. Y. (2024). Enhancing nursing competency through virtual reality simulation among nursing students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Medicine, 11, 1351300. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2024.1351300
Cossio, S., Chiappinotto, S., Dentice, S., Moreal, C., Magro, G., Dussi, G., Palese, A., & Galazzi, A. (2025). Cybersickness and discomfort from head-mounted displays delivering fully immersive virtual reality: A systematic review. Nurse Education in Practice, 85, 104376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2025.104376
Ferrari, R. (2015). Writing narrative style literature reviews. Medical Writing, 24(4), 230–235. https://doi.org/10.1179/2047480615Z.000000000329
Foronda, C. L., Gonzalez, L., Meese, M. M., Slamon, N., Baluyot, M., Lee, J., & Aebersold, M. (2024). A comparison of virtual reality to traditional simulation in health professions education: A systematic review. Simulation in Healthcare, 19(1S), S90–S97. https://doi.org/10.1097/SIH.0000000000000745
Gårdling, J., Viseu, C., Hettinger, E., Jildenstål, P., & Augustinsson, A. (2025). The effects of virtual reality (VR) on clinical skills training in undergraduate radiography education: A systematic review. Radiography, 31(3), 102911. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2025.102911
Hou, M., Lu, Y., Liu, Y., Luo, W., Xue, H., Yuan, H., & Zhang, X. (2025). The impact of virtual reality applied in nurse education on students’ clinical thinking: A systematic review. Nurse Education Today, 146, 106553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106553
Huai, P., Li, Y., Wang, X., Zhang, L., Liu, N., & Yang, H. (2024). The effectiveness of virtual reality technology in student nurse education: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nurse Education Today, 138, 106189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106189
Jallad, S. T., & Işık, B. (2022). The effectiveness of virtual reality simulation as learning strategy in the acquisition of medical skills in nursing education: A systematic review. Irish Journal of Medical Science, 191(3), 1407–1426. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-021-02695-z
Kim, J. Y., Kim, J., & Lee, M. (2024). Are virtual reality intravenous injection training programs effective for nurses and nursing students? A systematic review. Nurse Education Today, 139, 106208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106208
Lin, M.-Y., Huang, M.-Z., & Lai, P.-C. (2024). Effect of virtual reality training on clinical skills of nursing students: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nurse Education in Practice, 81, 104182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2024.104182
Lo, Y.-T., Yang, C.-C., Yeh, T.-F., Tu, H.-Y., & Chang, Y.-C. (2022). Effectiveness of immersive virtual reality training in nasogastric tube feeding education: A randomized controlled trial. Nurse Education Today, 119, 105601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2022.105601
Na, S., Son, J., & Lee, H. J. (2025). Immersive virtual reality in nursing education: A scoping review of components, outcome variables, and interaction modes. Nurse Education Today, 155, 106877. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2025.106877
Ropponen, P., Tomietto, M., Pramila-Savukoski, S., Kuivila, H., Koskenranta, M., Liaw, S. Y., & Mikkonen, K. (2025). Impacts of VR simulation on nursing students’ competence, confidence, and satisfaction: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Nurse Education Today, 152, 106756. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2025.106756
Sapkaroski, D., Mundy, M., & Dimmock, M. R. (2022). Immersive virtual reality simulated learning environment versus role-play for empathic clinical communication training. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 69(1), 56–65. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmrs.555
Tabatabaei Far, S. S., Ahmadi Marzaleh, M., Soltani, R., & Ghaleh Golab, F. (2026). Applications and challenges of virtual reality in medical sciences education: A systematic review. Journal of Advances in Medical Education & Professionalism, 14(1), 21–31. https://doi.org/10.30476/jamp.2025.104655.2076
Yildiz, H., & Demiray, A. (2022). Virtual reality in nursing education 3D intravenous catheterization E-learning: A randomized controlled trial. Contemporary Nurse, 58(2–3), 125–137. https://doi.org/10.1080/10376178.2022.2051573
Zhang, W., Ding, Z., Bakaev, M., Razumnikova, O., Kludacz-Alessandri, M., & Wu, J. (2025). Immersive virtual reality based on head-mounted display in medical education: A systematic review. BMC Medical Education, 25, 1593. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-08154-y
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 María Priscila Rodríguez Benítez , Mariuxi Johanna Zurita Desiderio , Yulitza Geomara Villamar Torres , Vilma Rocío Quijije Chávez
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
+593987341121 Email: rjposso@revistamentor.ec
