An Exploratory Study to Develop a Virtual Reality Based Simulation Training Program for Hypovolemic Shock Nursing Care: A Qualitative Study Using Focus Group Interview

Although patients with hypovolemic shock are common in clinical practice, nursing students have little chance of coming across them during their practicum. The main focus of this qualitative study was to explore the elements essential for a virtual reality (VR) based simulation program for hypovolemic shock nursing care. To this end, we conducted focus group interviews with three expert groups of 15 (five from each group) experienced clinical nurses (≥10 years) with experience in hypovolemic shock nursing care. Data were collected in June and July 2020, and after transcribing the interviews, the data analysis involved theme development as part of qualitative content analysis. The exploratory research results were classified into five themes: experience of hypovolemic shock nursing care, determinants of patient prognosis, essential nursing competence, scenario construction, and direction for VR simulation program development. Based on their experience of hypovolemic shock nursing care, the participants suggested concrete development directions for scenarios and VR-based simulation training programs. This article proposes the development of a VR-based simulation program that reflects the exploratory research results of this study in order for nursing students to take an interest in hypovolemic shock nursing care and efficiently improve related skills.