Maine nursing students use simulations, AI and VR to prepare for real patients

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — It looks like a modern hospital room, with nursing students going in and out, getting supplies and logging clinical notes, all while nursing faculty members watch and provide feedback on the patient’s care.

But this room is in a simulation center, and the patient — a life-size manikin — is designed to help students learn in a safe environment through AI and virtual reality simulation programs.

The continuous hands-on learning and faculty support helps students like Grace Newmarker build confidence as they advance through the nursing program.

Newmarker, who is working on her associate of science in nursing degree from Purdue Global, said faculty at the simulation center provide her and other students resources and a supportive environment during their coursework. She is taking courses at Purdue Global’s location at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

“The faculty at the simulation center are helpful when I have concerns about a class, need additional hands-on experience or need a place to sit down and focus on my schoolwork,” she said. “Having a space dedicated to nursing students makes it easier to ask questions, practice skills and feel supported throughout the program.”

Newmarker chose Purdue Global’s nursing program because she could transfer credits from other institutions and start her classes quickly. The sim center has helped her become more confident in her skills, decision-making and ability to care for patients.

“The flexibility and transfer process made Purdue Global a great fit for me and allowed me to keep moving forward toward my nursing degree,” she said. “I hope to continue with Purdue Global and advance my degrees in the future because of the program structure, flexibility and the support I have received from the faculty.”

In addition to utilizing simulation programs through AI and VR platforms on Meta Quest headsets in associate and master’s nursing degree programs, Purdue Global operates four simulation centers with four hospital partners at the following locations:

• Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine
• CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs in Iowa
• Dallas County Hospital in Perry, Iowa
• UnityPoint Health – Jones Regional Medical Center in Anamosa, Iowa

Purdue Global’s simulation programs received the Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement from the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning.

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Abbey Elliott, associate dean of innovation and wellness for Purdue Global’s School of Nursing, said the simulations, AI and VR expand the number and types of clinical experiences students encounter.

“We take simulation beyond the walls of the simulation center,” Elliott said. “Students can enter that immersive clinical environment and interact with virtual patients, practice assessments, make those clinical decisions and then receive feedback on their experience.”

Purdue Global has integrated simulation experiences across its nursing degree programs, aligning them with course content and creating a simulation ecosystem along the way.

“Purdue Global’s use of simulation programs, virtual reality and AI technology help our students build the confidence they need for their clinicals and working with patients,” said Marlo Robinson, dean and vice president of Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. “We have received positive feedback from our students that the simulations help prepare them for a variety of real-life experiences and develop and improve their assessment skills and critical thinking needed to care for our communities, all in a safe space.”