Immersive Technologies and Disaster Nursing Education.

Abstract

Background: Immersive technologies, augmented and virtual reality, can be key to nursing students learning emergency response skills necessary in a disaster. Both augmented and virtual reality provide a sense of realism critical to learning that is not possible from practice drill skills. Emergency response agencies have used these technologies with positive results.

Method: Evidenced-based research was reviewed to elicit disaster preparedness, technical aspects of these technologies, and how they have been used in nursing education and emergency response agencies.

Results: Immersive technologies are viable choices for educating nursing student emergency response skills.

Conclusion: Students were positive about using these technologies, which can improve knowledge and student engagement, increase levels of self-efficacy, and promote creativity and problem solving. Students can practice any time as instructors are not required in the safe, controlled learning environment, which builds on tech-savvy students' skills. Physiological and psychological changes that may occur with virtual technology require investigation and follow-up. [J Nurs Educ. 2025;64(4):269-272.].