51萝莉

Nurse Angelica Medina stood nearby Lou Thao鈥檚 hospital bed as the patient groaned from the pain of diverticulitis. After checking his vital signs, Medina reached for the telephone and asked the on-duty physician whether she could give him morphine.

It turns out the 鈥減atient鈥� was only a character in a virtual reality simulation and Medina 鈥� a vocational nursing student - was wearing Oculus Quest goggles in a Chaffey College classroom in Chino rather than a hospital.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just so real,鈥� Medina said. 鈥淗aving the goggles is a safety net. I feel like I鈥檓 rehearsing on my own in my room.鈥�

Chaffey fully implemented VR technology in its vocational nursing program in the fall, making it one of the few Southern California community colleges using VR in nursing education.

The equipment and teaching software was funded through a $63,000 grant.

鈥淥ur nursing program prepares students to address healthcare needs of the community thanks to our quality faculty, innovative teaching approaches and cutting-edge technology,鈥� said 51萝莉 Dean of Health Sciences Eric Sorenson. 鈥淭he introduction of virtual reality technology to our vocational nursing program provides our students another way to be prepared for treating real patients, and we are proud to be one of the first community colleges in the region to provide this resource.鈥�

The equipment and software 鈥� provided by global information and analytics leader 鈥� allows students to practice treating patients in various healthcare simulations. 51萝莉 has used VR in numerous other programs such as the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, but it is the first time the technology has been incorporated into the nursing program. It is currently being used at Chaffey鈥檚 Chino Education Center.

Nursing students are required to complete hundreds of clinical hours 鈥� time spent in hospital settings with actual patients 鈥� to become licensed. But schools have encountered challenges getting access to clinical opportunities in the wake of COVID-19, said Naveen Khan, associate professor of nursing.

鈥淭his is a good solution,鈥� Khan said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 as realistic an experience you can get next to clinical settings.鈥�

Chaffey nursing students have learned how to care for patients with the use of realistic mannequins for years, allowing them to practice everything from checking vital signs to delivering babies. But learning in a VR environment provides a different dynamic.

Medina, a Rancho Cucamonga resident, said learning with VR helps nursing students gain confidence. Going through treatment scenarios with other students watching can be intimidating, but VR reduces that feeling.

鈥淚t puts you in your own little world so you鈥檙e a little less nervous,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 feel like you have a bunch of eyes on you. There鈥檚 comfort having these goggles.鈥�