Research Shows VR in Prebriefing Elevates Undergraduate Nursing Education

Prelicensure nursing programs face mounting pressure to prepare practice-ready graduates while navigating faculty shortages, limited clinical sites, and rising enrollment demands. Simulation has become essential in bridging classroom theory with real-world clinical practice, but its effectiveness depends on more than the scenario itself.

Prebriefing is the orientation and preparation given before a simulation plays a pivotal role in building psychological safety, boosting student confidence, reducing anxiety, and sharpening clinical judgment. The question is: which prebriefing methods truly deliver the best outcomes for nursing students?

The Study: Comparing Prebriefing Techniques

A peer-reviewed study by Odreman et al. (2025) compared three prebriefing methods in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 38 practical nursing students:‍

• Traditional Verbal Report: Students were provided a verbal handoff outlining patient details, learning objectives, and the simulation setup.‍
• Guided Concept Mapping: Students were provided a guided concept map to organize patient information, objectives, and care planning.‍
• Guided VR Prebriefing with UbiSim: Students were provided a guided VR prebriefing using UbiSim, where they practiced interacting with a virtual patient and explored objectives, setup, and care planning in an immersive environment.

After prebriefing, all students completed a standardized simulation scenario. Researchers measured two critical indicators: psychological safety (the student’s sense of confidence and security during simulation) and clinical judgment (the ability to make sound decisions in patient care).

Results That Matter to Prelicensure Nursing Programs

The outcomes were clear:

• Psychological Safety: Improved by 72% with UbiSim VR prebriefing versus traditional methods.‍
• Clinical Judgment: Scored 57% higher with UbiSim VR prebriefing compared to traditional methods.‍
• Correlation: Strong evidence that higher psychological safety leads to stronger clinical judgment is a critical link for preparing students for clinical rotations and NCLEX readiness.
  

Students using the UbiSim VR prebriefing method developed a clearer mental framework for the clinical scenario and demonstrated an increased ability to adapt when patient conditions changed. In other words, VR-prepared students were more confident, flexible, and better able to translate theory into practice.

Why This Matters for Prelicensure Nursing Programs

For Associate and Bachelor-level programs, these findings translate into:

• Better Prepared Students: Increased confidence and readiness to enter clinical practice.‍
• Stronger NCLEX Outcomes: Improved clinical judgment skills tied directly to NCLEX competencies.‍
• Scalable Faculty Support: VR prebriefing reduces student anxiety and standardizes preparation, allowing faculty to manage larger cohorts more effectively.‍
• Evidence-Based Adoption: With peer-reviewed validation, UbiSim offers schools a proven pathway to integrate VR into their curriculum.
  

Bringing It Together: VR Simulation + Prebriefing

The study highlights what prelicensure nursing educators leaders are seeking: scalable tools that boost student success without increasing faculty burden. Utilizing UbiSim as a part of prebriefing offers more than a technology upgrade—it provides an evidence-based strategy to enhance learning outcomes across nursing cohorts.

By integrating VR into prebriefing, ADN and BSN programs can:

• Standardize simulation experiences, regardless of clinical site availability.
  
• Enhance student engagement while reducing first-day anxiety.
  
• Accelerate faculty adoption by simplifying preparation and delivery.