Virtual Reality as a Tool for Education and Training in Intensive Care

Background: The health care system and therefore also intensive care units are already facing great challenges and continuous changes. Apart from the demographic change and the rise in the need for care, the growing relevance of digitalization also plays a major role. Due to the increasing demand for high-tech medicine and the continuous progress in intensive care, not only innovations are needed to face the continuous changes, but also a specific education and training for nurses at an intensive care unit. Purpose: The study was designed to explore how virtual reality can be used as a training and education tool in the context of the increasing digitalization in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Methodology: Guideline-based expert interviews were conducted with virtual reality companies, directors of training centers in which special training for intensive care nursing is offered, and qualified specialists of intensive care units. Findings: The qualitative research shows that different scenarios in intensive care units can already be illustrated and simulated with virtual reality. These range from equipment training to a simulation of an entire patient room with a virtual patient and different symptoms. Conclusion: Due to the already existing possibilities, virtual reality is recommendable and useful as a training and education tool in the field of intensive care and will be of great importance in the future.