Nursing students use a VR simulation to help prepare them to handle workplace violence.
ALTOONA, Pa. — According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care workers are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than those in other industries. This includes physical, sexual and psychological assaults.
These incidents can have a profound effect on the well-being of the assaulted and their ability to care for patients.
Students in the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing at Penn State Altoona are using virtual reality (VR) to learn about workplace violence and ways to de-escalate it. VR simulations expose students to real-life scenarios in a safe learning environment and help them develop foundational knowledge and skills associated with workplace violence.
In a recent class, students in NURS 452 Women’s Health Issues, participated in an immersive VR de-escalation scenario from Oxford Medical Simulation.
Students first learned about types and sources of workplace violence as well as how to address it, including prevention and tips for de-escalation. Then they began the simulation. In the scenario, a patient’s family member is upset, and the students, as nurses, worked to diffuse the situation.
A debrief was held after the scenario so students could reflect on it and discuss how what they learned will impact their practice.
