Christy Heid: How VR Simulation is Transforming Nursing Education

Jeff Dillon sits down with Dr. Christy Heid, a Nursing Simulation Specialist at UbiSim. They tackle a critical issue revealed by UbiSim’s recent report: 65% of hospital leaders feel new nursing graduates aren't fully prepared for day-one patient care.

Christy explains how this "readiness gap" is being closed through immersive VR simulation and AI-powered tools. She delves into how UbiSim’s nurse-built platform fosters essential clinical judgment, provides a safe space for deliberate practice, and helps solve systemic challenges like clinical site shortages and faculty burnout. From stunning stats on AI-assisted charting adoption to real-world success stories of improved nurse retention, this conversation is a deep dive into how technology is not just enhancing, but fundamentally reshaping, nursing education to create a more confident, competent, and future-ready healthcare workforce.

 

Key Takeaways

1. There is a Significant "Readiness Gap": 65% of hospital leaders believe new nursing graduates are not fully prepared for day-one patient care, highlighting a critical disconnect between academic training and the realities of modern healthcare.
2. Clinical Judgment is the #1 Priority: The most pressing skill gap identified by employers is clinical judgment—the ability to make sound decisions in complex, changing situations. This is a foundational skill that takes time and repeated practice to develop.
3. VR Simulation is a Safe, Scalable Solution: Immersive VR provides a risk-free environment for students to make mistakes, learn from them, and engage in "deliberate practice." It is scalable, standardizes experiences for all learners, and can help address limitations like scarce clinical sites and faculty shortages.
4. AI is Already Transforming Healthcare Workflows: The adoption of AI-assisted charting in hospitals has increased by 165% in the last three years. Nurses now need to be trained to work alongside AI tools, which can free up to half of their time from administrative tasks for direct patient care.
5. The Future is a Blended, Personalized Approach: The goal isn't to replace all live clinical experience with simulation, but to use it as a strategic, blended component. The future of nursing education lies in personalized, goal-directed learning that leverages both VR immersion and AI-driven feedback.
6. Technology Strengthens Academic-Practice Partnerships: A major trend is hospitals and nursing schools creating co-branded micro-credential programs. Immersive VR acts as a bridge between these two worlds, ensuring graduates are equipped with the specific competencies employers need.
7. The Human Element Remains Irreplaceable: While AI and VR are powerful tools, they are designed to enhance, not replace, human skills. The focus is on using technology to recapture time for the human connection, critical thinking, and reflective dialogue that are at the heart of nursing.

 

Find Christy Heid:

LinkedIn                              

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drchristyheid/

UbiSim

https://www.ubisimvr.com/

 

And find EdTech Connect here:

Web: https://edtechconnect.com/

 

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - How Technology is Disrupting Nursing Education
• (00:02:16) - UB SIM: The Nursing Education Platform
• (00:04:28) - Practice Ready: The Need for New Graduates
• (00:07:26) - How is AI impacting the nursing profession?
• (00:11:58) - Immersive VR Simulation
• (00:15:04) - UBSIM: Case Studies
• (00:16:44) - The Right Blend Between Simulation and Live Clinical Experience
• (00:17:53) - Immersive VR Training
• (00:19:47) - How is simulation influencing healthcare system training programs?
• (00:22:23) - The future of nursing education: VR and AI
• (00:25:30) - How VR Simulation and EdTech Connect are shaping nursing education