American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Impact of Virtual Reality Simulation on New Nurses' Assessment of Pediatric Respiratory Distress.
Children often experience respiratory illnesses requiring bedside nurses skilled in recognizing respiratory decompensation. Historically, recognizing respiratory distress has relied on teaching during direct patient care. Virtual reality simulation may accelerate such recognition among novice nurses. ⋯ Implementation of a virtual reality-based training curriculum was associated with improved recognition of pediatric respiratory distress, impending respiratory failure, and altered mental status at 3 and 6 months compared with standard training approaches. Virtual reality may offer a new approach to nurse orientation to enhance training in pediatrics-specific assessment skills.