Students in the Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (SCBScN) program are increasingly using virtual reality (VR) to prepare for real-life healthcare scenarios, according to Saskatchewan Polytechnic. The program, a joint venture between Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the University of Regina, is significantly expanding its use of VR to enhance nursing education and better equip future healthcare professionals.
Safe Learning Environment
"Virtual reality is such a great opportunity for our students to learn in a very safe environment," says Loreli Palandri, Saskatchewan Polytechnic's Simulation Centre manager. "It gives them so many experiences and the ability to really foster real-time critical thinking skills. It is positive, engaging and interactive."
Immersive Learning Benefits
Integrating VR into nursing education offers an immersive, interactive way for learners to build not only technical skills but also critical thinking and clinical judgment. It exposes students to situations they may not encounter during clinical placements, helping them build confidence, reduce anxiety and feel more prepared for practice.
Olami Akinfiresoye, a second-year SCBScN student at the Regina campus, shares her experience: "It took out some of the anxiety that you would experience during a clinical setting. It opens up a lot of space to make mistakes before we get out there and do the real thing."
From Pilot to Full Rollout
A pilot VR program launched in January 2025 with a small group of nursing students. After extensive feedback, the pilot expanded that fall. "The response has been really great — from faculty as well as students," says Palandri. "We are now looking to fully launch the VR program across the entire SCBScN curriculum for the fall of 2026."
Palandri notes that the tech-savvy demographic entering the nursing program adapts quickly. "They respond positively to our technological advances. They pick it up quickly and are able to fully immerse themselves immediately into that learning environment," she says. "That is a driving force behind what we are doing. We are always trying to be as cutting edge as possible, so we can meet these learners where they are."
Innovative Simulation Centres
Students in the four-year program learn through a combination of classroom instruction, clinical practice and state-of-the-art lab simulations. The program's simulation centres are among the most advanced healthcare learning environments in Saskatchewan. While lab simulations use physical equipment and high-fidelity mannequins to mimic clinical scenarios, VR offers immersive, three-dimensional experiences accessed through headsets and handsets.
