Practice nursing in virtual reality at Maria College

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Nursing students are experiencing more lifelike situations outside of a hospital thanks to virtual reality. Maria College has been using its new labs where students can interact with AI patients.

Reading textbooks and practicing on mannequins is still part of Maria College's nursing curriculum but the college is setting a higher standard for the Capital Region. "A virtual space where students come together and practice working with virtual patients. In this environment, they have to assess, communicate, and collaborate with each other to try to move through the scenario," said Jason Coley, Director of the Center of Academic Innovation.

A scenario includes one or multiple students all helping a patient. 50 of them come preinstalled with a wide range of ailments. Coley says lessons can also be created and edited by professors. "We're strategically leveraging our VR lab and placing it after the low-fidelity labs but before they go to clinicals with human patients."

The headsets and software allow students to safely make mistakes and learn from them. Two controllers create an immersive experience while checking vitals and using virtual tools. AI patients even talk back and other students can also play the role.

"They can talk as the patient, the parent if we're doing a pediatric simulation, or they can be the provider as well. So, I could call the provider and say, "The patient's in pain. I think we need an additional pain medication," or something along those lines and then they can place the order in the computer," explained Olivia Bransky, Simulation Coordinator at Maria College.

College employees told NEWS10's Anthony Krolikowski that plans to take the technology on the road are underway. A van will bring VR headsets around the Capital Region to encourage anyone interested in pursuing nursing.