Authors

  1. Ball, Sarah J. PhD, RN
  2. Goodman, Joely PhD, RN
  3. Flott, Elizabeth EdD, RN
  4. Young, Christine MSN
  5. Hercinger, Maribeth PhD, RN

Article Content

Nursing faculty teaching in prelicensure programs have different approaches to assist students in assessing patient safety concerns in the clinical setting. Strategies outside of the clinical setting, such as "room of errors," require increased faculty time to ensure consistency of simulated rooms and evaluation of the students' learning experience. A Midwestern college of nursing developed Augmented Reality (AR) 360 photosphere safety rooms as an approach to teach and evaluate prelicensure students' recognition of safety concerns before they enter a clinical environment. Augmented Reality is the technological combination of reality with virtual experiences, allowing the individual learner real-time connectivity to a panoramic atmosphere, for example, clinical setting. One type of AR application is a 360-degree photosphere. The AR 360 photosphere involves photographing a 1-time setup of the environment and then combining the reality of the clinical environment with the virtual experience on a secured platform. Supplemental Digital Content Photographs 1, http://links.lww.com/NE/A756 and 2, http://links.lww.com/NE/A757 provide a view of a 360-degree photosphere safety room. Students use their mouse to view the room and zoom in and out to find safety concerns. The AR 360 photosphere has the benefit of allowing students to virtually access the clinical space so they may visually immerse themselves and interact with the clinical environment from a distance, without leaving their current location. Students apply their understanding of patient safety in the environment by identifying and documenting safety concerns. They explain the rationale, potential adverse outcomes, and approaches to correct the error. The efficiency and consistency of the AR 360 photosphere allow faculty to be consistent in monitoring student completion of the assignment and student accuracy of assessment of clinical environmental safety concerns.