The Effect of a Pre-Clinical Practice Simulation Using Virtual Reality Stress and Anxiety Levels

Nursing education is a field that requires the integration of both clinical and theoretical training, as it is a practical discipline (Ryan et al., 2010; Özçelik & Ayhan, 2021). Therefore, nurse educators must continuously innovate their teaching and learning methods at every stage of their students' educational journey (Fealy et al., 2019). The use of simulation in nursing education has been implemented for the past 50 years (Foronda et al., 2017). Simulation practices can reflect the characteristics of the real world, providing students with safe learning environments where they can practice until they achieve skill competence through feedback and self-correction (Aebersold, 2018; Shorey & Ng, 2021). With the advancement of simulation technology over time, it is observed that the realism and authenticity of simulated environments have increased.

Upon reviewing the literature, no studies were found that evaluate the impact of simulation practices using virtual reality headsets related to the operating room environment on nursing students' stress and anxiety levels before clinical practice. Therefore, this study is planned to be conducted on nursing students. The results of this study are expected to contribute to educators in enhancing, planning, and managing the effectiveness of clinical education.

The study will conduct as a prospective randomized controlled trial. After obtaining verbal and written consent from the students before and after the clinical practice, the study will conduct with various data collection forms.

These forms are; Student Identification form, Spielberger's State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale and Perceived Stress Scale for Nursing Students will be used, and Visual Analog Scale will be used to assess the general self-confidence of the students. Patients will randomize.

The Virtual Reality (VR) group in group- I (n=41), and group II (n=41) will be the control group. We have three stage. In first stage; anxiety levels will be measured for both groups. In second stage; Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale and anxiety levels will evaluated for the Virtual Reality (VR) group in group- I. In third stage; anxiety levels and Stress levels will be measured for both groups in clinical practice.

Inclusion criteria

• Being a second-year student at Gülhane Nursing Faculty of Health Sciences University
• Agreeing to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• Not completing any stage of the study
• Wanting to withdraw from the study
• Having previously taken the surgical disease nursing course