Assessing the effectiveness of nursing virtual reality simulation for English as second language students to decrease anxiety in clinical courses

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Nursing Virtual Reality Simulation (NVRS) in increasing confidence and reducing anxiety among English as a Second Language (ESL) students enrolled in undergraduate nursing clinical courses. ESL nursing students often face unique challenges in clinical settings, where effective communication and critical thinking are crucial. With the growing use of NVRS as an innovative component of nursing education, this study employed a mixed-methods approach, including a pre-intervention survey and a post-intervention Likert-scale questionnaire, along with individual interviews, to evaluate the outcomes of two NVRS sessions. Preliminary findings suggest that NVRS significantly reduces anxiety related to language barriers, enabling ESL students to practice and improve their communication skills in a supportive, immersive environment. The positive feedback from participants underscores the potential of NVRS to enhance clinical learning experiences. The study concludes that NVRS could be an effective supplementary tool in reducing anxiety among ESL nursing students, and further research is recommended to explore the long-term impacts of NVRS on clinical performance and confidence.