Nursing Students Reported More Positive Emotions about Training during COVID-19 After Using a Virtual Simulation Paired with an In-person Simulation

BACKGROUND: Virtual simulations (VS) are educational tools that can help overcome the limitations of in-person learning highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research has illustrated that VS can support learning, but little is known about the usability of VS as a distance learning tool. Research on students’ emotions about VS is also scarce, despite the influence of emotions on learning. METHODS: A quantitative longitudinal study was conducted with undergraduate nursing students. 18 students participated in a hybrid learning experience involving a virtual simulation (VS) followed by an in-person simulation. Students completed questionnaires about their emotions, perceived success, and usability and received a performance score from the VS. RESULTS: Nursing students reported statistically significant improvements in their emotions about completing their program after completing both VS and in-person simulations compared to their emotions before the pair of simulations. Emotions directed toward the VS were weak-to-moderate in strength, but predominantly positive. Positive emotions were positively associated with nursing students’ performance. Findings replicated “okay” approaching “good” usability ratings from a recent study with key methodological differences that used the same software. CONCLUSIONS: VS can be an emotionally positive, effective, efficient, and satisfying distance learning supplement to traditional simulations.