Virtual reality pilot project gives Alberta nursing students hands-on-experience

Nursing students at the University of Alberta are gaining invaluable hands-on experience through a virtual reality pilot project, bridging the gap between academic learning and clinical practice. Aderonke Aderbigbe, a nursing student, described the experience as "eye-opening" and felt a "this is the future" sensation upon using the virtual headset in the faculty's simulation lab.

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It was really eye-opening. I had a ‘this is the future’ kind of feeling.

Nearly 900 students have participated in the immersive virtual reality (iVR) pilot, which ran from September 2025 to April 2026. The program allows students to navigate diverse scenarios, including rare cases like caring for a patient with mpox or assisting a mother during childbirth. Crucially, it provides a safe space to practice high-stress situations and learn from mistakes without any risk to actual patients.

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It gives me the opportunity to make mistakes and learn from it without actually doing damage to an actual patient.

"It gives me the opportunity to make mistakes and learn from it without actually doing damage to an actual patient," said Aderbigbe. Fellow student Drew Owen highlighted how the VR scenarios often involve rapid patient deterioration, situations a typical nursing student might not handle in real life. "This gives people the chance to practice that on their own and give their best swing at it, without any of the real-world consequences that could come with it," he added.

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I think it’s a stepping stone that helps students take that small step towards real-life practice, with a bit more confidence.

Abigail Shuman, a recent graduate involved in developing the program, noted that while lectures provide known answers, VR scenarios trigger a more instinctual response. "When I was facilitating, it really helped me build my own confidence and my own knowledge and then I can carry that forward into my job," she stated. Dr. Tracey Stephen, executive director of the Nursing Simulation Centre, explained that VR is an enhancement to existing simulation methods, focusing on critical thinking, clinical judgment, and prioritization, all within a compact and efficient setup.

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This gives people the chance to practice that on their own and give their best swing at it, without any of the real-world consequences that could come with it.