Nursing Students' Perceptions of Using Virtual Patients to Prepare for Clinical Practice

Background: Educators are called on to provide opportunities for students to practice and integrate skills and knowledge to ensure preparation for the complexities of today's health care environment. This study explored nursing students' perceptions of using virtual patients to prepare for clinical practice. Method: This study used an exploratory qualitative design. Four focus group interviews were conducted with 25 third-year nursing students. Data were collected and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Results: Four main themes and eight subthemes emerged. Main themes included personal engagement, learning environment, organizational factors, and improvement needed. Subthemes included being a computer game player, becoming confident in clinical practice, convenient to practice, an authentic stressful learning environment, organization, better to be combined with mannequin-based simulation, technology difficulties, and aural factors. Conclusion: Although some perceived disadvantages were identified, the use of virtual patients could be an effective strategy to improve nursing students' preparation for clinical preparation. © SLACK Incorporated.