Virtual Reality Enhances Nurse Cardiac Training

The VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System (VASNHS) has introduced a virtual reality (VR) training program to help non-critical care nurses prepare for cardiac arrest events. Led by Dr. Carissa Hernandez, the initiative uses immersive 360-degree VR scenarios filmed on actual hospital units, with real equipment and colleagues acting out procedures. 

This approach offers on-demand practice without disrupting patient care, reinforcing adherence to the American Heart Association’s Basic Life Support guidelines. Nurses report feeling more confident and engaged thanks to the realistic, self-paced format. Traditional mock codes remain important but are resource-intensive; VR offers a scalable supplement for frequent skill reinforcement. The project is the first of its kind for VA in southern Nevada and will expand to include emergency triage, outpatient code responses, VA Police crisis training, and difficult conversation simulations, aiming to build a standardized, accessible training model for broader VA use.