The Effectiveness of Self-directed Practice Program of Medication Nursing Using Virtual Reality for Nursing Students

The purpose of this study was to verify the effectiveness of self-directed practice program of medication nursing using virtual reality (VR) for nursing students. A quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group pre-test and post-test design was employed. Thirty-two students were assigned to the intervention group and 32 to the control group. The experimental group participated in self-directed medication nursing skills practice using virtual reality. The control group participated in conventional self-directed medication nursing skills practice. Data were collected between May 3 and June 7, 2024, through self-report structured questionnaires and data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 28.0 program. There were significant differences in the level of self-directed learning ability (t=10.53, p<.001), learning satisfaction (t=6.60, p<.001) and confidence in nursing skills (Intradermal injection (t=6.30, p<.001), Subcutaneous injection (t=7.18, p<.001), Intramuscular injection (t=8.03, p<.001), Intravenous fluid infusion (t=7.85, p<.001)) between the experimental and control groups. It has been identified that self-directed learning ability, learning satisfaction and confidence in nursing skills were improved in case of medication nursing skills using virtual reality is applied to self-directed practice. Therefore practice education using virtual reality is recommended to improve the confidence in nursing skills of students because it can be provided without restriction of time and locations.