Let’s talk nursing excellence. As an early career nurse, I wanted not only to take care of people and help them through a difficult time in their lives but also to do it with excellence. This led me to practice nursing at the James Cancer Hospital, a National Institute of Health (NIH) Comprehensive Cancer Center and American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet-recognized hospital, where I learned from the best, honed my skills in complex cases, and refined my career goals. 

Why does excellence matter? The ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® symbolizes the highest standard of nursing excellence, honoring healthcare organizations that showcase outstanding nursing practice, leadership, and innovation (Abuzied, et al., 2022). Achieving and maintaining Magnet status involves a rigorous process that requires a commitment to excellence across all aspects of nursing practice. 

What does excellence look like? As part of my clinical practice, you would find me researching evidence-based practice protocols for administering blood products, tracking and analyzing rates of central line infections as part of our quality improvement initiatives, and listening to a nursing podcast on the latest cancer detection recommendations to support my professional development. These activities, led by nurses within health systems, allow us to provide excellent nursing care and improve patient outcomes.

VR is one way to achieve excellence

Nursing excellence and quality patient care do not happen overnight. Magnet hospitals are committed to delivering standardized education on routine nursing care delivery and high-risk, low-occurrence situations (Abuzied et al., 2022). For nurses, the situations we encounter frequently and those rare cases that carry significant implications can serve as an excellent foundation for refining and enhancing nursing practice within healthcare systems. A well-designed simulation training program integrating immersive virtual reality (VR) ensures that all nurses are prepared to handle any situation, regardless of their experience level (Culhane et al., 2024). 

UbiSim, a virtual reality (VR) platform designed specifically for nurses by nurses, can effectively address several challenges associated with achieving and maintaining Magnet designation through standardized experiential learning experiences that equip nurses with essential competencies necessary to provide high-quality care.

8 Ways UbiSim VR Supports Nursing Practice Excellence

The Top 8 ways that UbiSim's immersive VR nursing simulation can drive nursing excellence and support your healthcare facility's pursuit of Magnet designation.

1. Enhancing Clinical Skills and Decision-Making

UbiSim provides realistic and interactive clinical scenarios, allowing nurses to practice their skills in a safe environment. For example, when learners recognize acute myocardial infarction in Sharif Amari, they must use clinical judgment to prioritize care, promptly implement the treatment plan, and communicate effectively with the patient and interprofessional team to improve patient outcomes. This helps enhance clinical competence, critical thinking, and decision-making capabilities, all essential to hospital systems on the Magnet journey.

2. Supporting Evidence-Based Practice

UbiSim simulations incorporate the latest evidence-based guidelines and research, like those found in ANA’s Clinical Practice Materials, into scenarios built using the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice (HSSOBP). Nurse developed and peer-review, each scenario needs assessment identifies the specific EBP sources used, aligns with AACN Essentials competencies, utilizes the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model, and maps to the NCLEX test plan. Evidence-based practice empowers nurses to implement current guidelines, supporting high-quality patient care key to Magnet recognition.

3. Facilitating Professional Development

Through its immersive simulations, UbiSim enables ongoing professional development by repeatedly allowing healthcare professionals to practice complex procedures. This continuous learning supports staff competency and confidence, crucial for delivering excellent patient care (Coughlin et al., 2024).

4. Promoting Teamwork and Communication

UbiSim can create scenarios that require interdisciplinary collaboration. Nurses can engage in simulations with other healthcare professionals, enhancing teamwork and communication skills. This aligns with the shared governance model of Magnet hospitals, fostering an environment of collaboration and collective responsibility (ANCC, 2025).

5. Addressing Resource Constraints

UbiSim offers a cost-effective and resource-efficient way to train nursing staff (Farra et al., 2019; Jung, 2022). For example, learners can practice safe medication administration in the context of Alzheimer’s Disease with Morgan Therin, Post Op Hip Arthroplasty with Daniel Maxwell, and Type II Diabetes Mellitus with Eloise Jennings inside a 7-foot radius with only a headset, computer, and WiFi connection. By allowing nurses to practice real-world scenarios without the need for physical resources or compromising the safety of patients, UbiSim helps Magnet hospitals optimize their educational resources while maintaining high standards of care.

6. Evaluating Outcomes and Performance

UbiSim includes tools for tracking performance metrics and evaluating nursing outcomes during simulations. When a learner is performing in the scenario, every action is tracked. For example, when they miss washing their hands before providing care to Joan Rodgers, these actions are tracked, with learners receiving session feedback immediately following the session that includes rationale on the importance of handwashing, referencing the CDC website. Further, a post-simulation quiz featuring an unfolding case study and NextGen NCLEX-style questions evaluates learning with reportable data. This data helps hospitals assess their training programs' effectiveness and identify improvement areas, aligning with Magnet hospitals' focus on quality outcomes and continuous enhancement (ANCC, 2025).

7. Streamlining Training and Designation Efforts

UbiSim can facilitate sharing resources and best practices among Magnet hospitals, making it easier to navigate the designation process. The Intuitive Editor allows users to build upon existing scenarios by duplicating and editing them to meet unique institutional needs, which they can then share in a designated “By the Community” catalog. Organizations can streamline their simulation design approach by focusing on collaborative training efforts, enhancing onboarding, training, and competency validation efficiency, thereby improving nursing care delivery and patient outcomes.

8. Providing Standardized Education

UbiSim delivers standardized, evidence-based, immersive simulation scenarios to address commonly encountered patient care experiences and high-risk, low-occurrence situations. Each time learners engage with Elena Kahale, they work with the same patient to achieve the learning objectives but interact naturally, delivering care as they choose. This ensures that all nurses receive consistent training, regardless of experience level, helping to prepare them for various clinical situations (Fabry & Casteel, 2023; Willett et al., 2024).

When we care for our nurses, we can better care for our patients.

‍Given the high demand for nurses, with many regions experiencing shortages, the desire to attract and retain top nursing talent requires a dedication to nursing excellence. Magnet recognition represents more than positive patient outcomes; it speaks to the organization's culture of supporting nurses on their professional journey by creating space for professional development, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice initiatives. 

By leveraging UbiSim's capabilities, healthcare systems can enhance nurses' professional development, improve the utilization of evidence-based practices, and optimize clinical care delivery. Ultimately, this will enhance patient outcomes and reinforce adherence to the Magnet principles of excellence in nursing care.

For nurses like me, Magnet recognition represents the chance to learn and advance in my career with increased autonomy at the bedside. When I require nursing care, it assures me that I will receive the highest quality care as a patient. Who doesn’t want that?

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References

Abuzied, Y., Al-Amer, R., Abuzaid, M., & Somduth, S. (2022). The Magnet Recognition Program and Quality Improvement in Nursing. Global Journal on Quality and Safety in Healthcare, 5(4), 106-108. https://doi.org/10.36401/jqsh-22-12

American Nurses Credentialing Center. Magnet model—creating a magnet culture. Accessed March 16, 2025. www.nursingworld.org/organizational-programs/magnet/magnet-model/ 

Coughlin, V., Bolanos, G., Moran, L., Jacob, A., Stanislaus, M., Maydick-Youngberg, D. (2024). Welcome to the metaverse: Virtual reality in nursing professional development. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development 40(5), 236-241. DOI: 10.1097/NND.0000000000001073