Effect of the metaverse on the design and implementation of nursing curricula: A narrative review

Technological developments, especially in virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), have created new possibilities in medical and nursing education. The metaverse, as an interactive and communal virtual environment, enables realistic clinical simulations that are free from the hazards of the real world. Considering that nursing education requires both theoretical understanding and practical skill acquisition, the metaverse may enhance clinical training, increase learner engagement, and strengthen decision-making abilities. Given the nascent nature of this topic, a comprehensive evaluation of the current research may provide significant insights into the metaverse's influence on nursing curriculum design and execution. To investigate the impact of metaverse technologies on the design, implementation, and efficacy of nursing education curricula using a comprehensive review of academic research. The use of metaverse technology in nursing education is rapidly expanding, transforming learning experiences and the development of clinical skills. Platforms such as VR, AR, and MR offer realistic simulations for procedural practice, decision-making, and real-time feedback. These instruments have shown improvements in information retention, learner engagement, clinical decision-making, and student satisfaction. Wearable gadgets and haptic feedback systems have improved practical training. Nonetheless, obstacles such as elevated prices, the need for substantial infrastructure, significant learning curves, and ethical issues like privacy and digital weariness have been documented. Metaverse technologies hold considerable promise for improving nursing education; however, their successful application relies on infrastructure preparedness, faculty training, and deliberate instructional design.