AI-Powered Virtual Reality Simulation for Clinical Handover Training: A Development Framework

Nurse Educ. 2026 Jan-Feb;51(1):E24-E28. doi: 10.1097/NNE.0000000000002018. Epub 2025 Oct 27.

Abstract

Background: Clinical handover is critical for patient safety in nursing; however, traditional methods often lack immersion, realism, and personalized feedback, which hinders effective student training.

Problem: Nurse educators face technical challenges and limited practical guidance when integrating generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and virtual reality (VR) into handover education.

Approach: This article shares our developmental framework for integration, consisting of a 3-layer architecture: system (ChatGPT integration for adaptive responses), interaction (gamification interface), and presentation (immersive VR with Identification, Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation [ISBAR]-based AI avatars modeled after actual instructors).

Results: Pilot testing with undergraduate students showed enhanced authenticity through real-person avatars and real-time ISBAR feedback, with challenges in nonverbal synchronization identified for future improvements.

Conclusions: This developmental framework and implementation checklist provide nursing educators with systematic guidance for deploying AI-VR technology in clinical handover training, positioning nursing education at the forefront of pedagogical innovation.

Keywords: communication skills; educational technology; interprofessional education; patient safety; skills training.

MeSH terms

  • Artificial Intelligence*
  • Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / methods
  • Humans
  • Nursing Education Research
  • Nursing Evaluation Research
  • Patient Handoff*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Simulation Training* / methods
  • Students, Nursing / psychology
  • Students, Nursing / statistics & numerical data
  • Virtual Reality*