NPACE is always looking for innovative ways to deliver excellent continuing education options to our community. Recently, an augmented and virtual reality-enhanced educational module (AR/VR) in women’s health was developed and 28 participants evaluated its effectiveness at our Boston, 2019 conference. Here is a snapshot of some of the results of the evaluation:  92.86% (N=28) felt the experience provided an effective method of practicing the appropriate clinical practice steps of the procedure, 92.59% (N=27) felt the experience effectively taught the prioritization and problem solving of a female pelvic exam, 96.3% (N=27) felt AR/VR would effectively supplement training in NP programs.  

Clinical experience is an essential component of nurse practitioner (NP) education that relies heavily on hands-on clinical training by preceptors. Recruitment and retention of preceptors is challenging due to many variables that can affect NP education and practice. Evidence shows “as students compete to be taken on by the limited number of APRN preceptors who are available, it not only makes the preceptor role more and more difficult, but limits the possible expansion of the field so that more people could fill that role (GraduateNursingEdu.org, 2018).” 

Further, “there are several forms of training, but one of the most important forms of medical training to obtain the required skills for achieving the goal of high-quality service in a safe environment for patients is exposing medical students and doctors to live patients. The real dilemma is exposing live patients to medical students who still do not possess sufficient knowledge and experience could increase the level of risk on patient life. Therefore, simulation-based training and education is an effective solution for this dilemma as it offers the opportunity for medical students and doctors to practice without risking the lives of real patients, which provide the trainee the opportunity to focus on building the knowledge, skills, and experience and eliminate the tension that could hinder the learning process (Lateef, 2010).”

NPACE seeks to enhance educational offerings and broaden its reach to nurse practitioners who are new to practice, new to a particular specialty, or seeking practice updates. The development of virtual (VR) and augmented reality (AR) modules, first in women’s health and then cardio-pulmonary medicine is a way to provide innovative educational programming in these areas. Our goal is to positively advance the clinical understanding of nurse practitioners, in varying states of practice experience, through experiential, hands-on learning in both live and online educational formats.