https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876139926001027

Abstract: 

Background

Demand is increasing for immersive nursing simulations that strengthen psychomotor performance through haptic, sensory, and AI-driven feedback.

Methods

A descriptive survey study was conducted with 56 undergraduate nursing students from multiple institutions in South Korea who participated in three virtual reality (VR)-based simulations between August and September 2025, generating 156 performance observations. Simulations incorporated diverse psychomotor behaviors aligned with varying learning objectives, integrating haptic and sensory feedback with AI-simulated patients. User performance experience was measured across six domains: confidence, learning, presence, involvement, realism, and spatial presence.

Results

Mean scores exceeded 3.0 (5-point scale) for most domains, indicating favorable experiences. Male students reported significantly higher presence, involvement, spatial presence, learning, and confidence than female students. Self-reported simulation readiness correlated positively with learning, confidence, and presence.

Conclusion

VR simulations integrating targeted haptic, visual, and auditory feedback appear to support psychomotor learning and engagement, supporting their curricular value and warranting longitudinal evaluation of clinical competency outcomes.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence; Haptic feedback; Nursing; Simulation; User performance experience; Virtual reality