Geneva’s Nursing Program Introduces UbiSim Virtual Reality Technology

Geneva College’s nursing program is making significant strides in healthcare education by integrating virtual reality technology from UbiSim in the classroom. This innovative approach enhances clinical simulation experiences, allowing students to practice nursing skills in a safe, controlled environment.

Thanks to the generosity of a long-time donor passionate about establishing a nursing program at Geneva, the department received a generous donation to advance its clinical training. Around the same time, UbiSim reached out with an opportunity to demo their VR platform. The alignment of these events made it possible for Geneva’s nursing program to acquire three Meta VR headsets and student licenses for immersive simulations.

The UbiSim platform offers students the ability to engage with virtual patients while practicing essential skills. The realistic scenarios provide opportunities for students to interact with patients, family members, and doctors while instructors like Lynette Fair, PhD, professor and department chair, guide the experience in real time.

“In the VR environment, students can check vital signs, administer medications, and respond to patient concerns,” explains Fair. “I can even join as the patient or the doctor to provide immediate feedback.”

The UbiSim platform allows for group involvement, as well. Multiple users can enter the same simulation, and all simulations can be cast to a smart TV to allow other students to observe and learn from their peers’ experiences. This technology enables students to exercise problem-solving and decision-making skills in real-time as they interact with the physical and emotional needs of their virtual patients.

With the support of Geneva’s IT services, the nursing department has begun simulation labs with students currently enrolled in spring clinicals and will fully integrate the VR technology into the program in the fall. Fair plans to incorporate VR training into the first-year clinical seminar to familiarize students with the technology early on.

“We aim to use this as a tutoring tool, not for grading, but as a safe space for students to ask questions and refine their skills before stepping into real clinical settings,” says Fair.

Students in Geneva’s nursing program graduate with an associate degree in nursing from the Community College of Beaver County and a bachelor's in nursing from Geneva College. This dual degree program incorporates classroom work at Geneva with clinical work at CCBC, leading to the nursing license exam between students’ junior and senior years of college. Students come back for their senior year as registered nurses, finishing their upper-level nursing and core courses.

The VR simulations will be used as an aid to support the strenuous clinical exams, which are critical to degree completion and success in the field. The affordability and flexibility of VR technology makes it an ideal alternative to traditional physical simulation labs, which require more space and resources.

"By using the system, clinical students can choose simulations that directly apply to what they are learning in class,” shares nursing student Jenna Hartman ‘25. “Rather than being thrown immediately into the live clinical setting, students can use the system to build knowledge and confidence prior to entering the hospital. As a past clinical student myself, this is an invaluable on-campus resource for many current and future students."

With the integration of this technology, Geneva’s nursing program continues to prepare future nurses for a ministry of compassionate care with a more thorough understanding of the complexities of healthcare environments.

By Erika Kauffman ‘20

Mar 25, 2025