VR helps nursing students prepare for the future

That’s not the future. It’s happening now for TAFE Queensland nursing students on the Sunshine Coast, who are swapping theory-heavy learning for immersive, hands‑on experience inside a virtual hospital.

Using cutting‑edge technology, students assess what they can see, decide what to do next, ask the right questions and practise communicating with patients, all in a calm classroom environment, without the pressure of a busy hospital ward.

The program has been rolled out and managed by TAFE Queensland nursing educator Kayla McCabe, who saw an opportunity to bring learning to life.

“We’re in a once-in-a-lifetime technology boom, and it’s an exciting time to bring this kind of change into the classroom,” Kayla said.

“I’ve seen how much more engaged students are when learning is hands-on and technology driven. This kind of simulation fosters curiosity and excitement in a way we haven’t been able to achieve before,” Kayla said.

Instead of only reading about emergencies, students can put on a VR headset and respond to a holographic patient in crisis, assessing symptoms, choosing next steps, and practising the communication skills that sit at the heart of safe care.

“Students today tend to learn best when they can interact, problem-solve, and get immediate feedback. When you put a holographic patient in front of them and ask them to figure out what’s wrong, they light up. It’s a completely different energy to working through a scenario on a worksheet or a book,” Kayla said.

In a calm, guided classroom environment, students can identify symptoms, make decisions, and practise in real time before stepping into clinical placements.

The program also helps students build communication, composure, and the confidence to support people when they are unwell.

“That kind of practice helps students walk into their first hands-on training and workplace experience better prepared, more confident, and ready to work with new technology,” Kayla said.

“As teachers, we can select scenarios that align with the curriculum, from asthma and allergic reactions to diabetes and pregnancy-related complications, so the practice feels relevant and progresses across the course,” Kayla said.

And it’s not just teachers who are seeing the benefits.

Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121) student Blaise, who is nearing the end of his course, said he wishes the technology had been introduced earlier.

“They’re really cool, it is not what I expected at all,” he said.

“Seeing a holographic patient in a bed feels far more realistic than role‑playing with classmates. You take it more seriously.”

For Simon, who switched careers after several years in manufacturing quality assurance and is now ten weeks into the Fee-Free Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121), the experience has been eye-opening.

“When I first put on the headset, it was surprisingly good,” he said.

“It was relatively easy to work out. Especially at my age, where we didn’t grow up with this kind of technology.”

“You can see and hear the patient, read vital signs like blood pressure and heart rate and hear hospital sounds around you.

“Previously, it was all on paper and you had to imagine it in your head.”

Training in immersive environments helps graduates feel ready for emerging models of care, especially in fast-growing regions such as the Sunshine Coast, where demand is rising across a growing population.

Kayla has spent more than 12 years working as a registered nurse across Australia.

Her love of supporting students on the ward eventually led her into teaching, where she has worked as an educator at TAFE Queensland’s Sunshine Coast campus for the past five years.

“Nursing is one of those careers that can flex with your life stage, making it easier to fit work around study, family, or other commitments. I’m also a mum of two beautiful children and I’ve really valued the flexibility to work around the kids. Nursing is such a great career because it can take you anywhere,” she said.

According to the Australian Government, there are around 450,000 registered nurses and midwives in Australia, making nursing and midwifery the largest clinical workforce in the country.

The Australian Government’s Nursing Supply and Demand Study projects a national undersupply of 70,707 full-time equivalent nurses by 2035, with around 79,473 additional nurses needed to help meet demand. As the health sector continues to grow, employment outcomes remain strong, with the Graduate Outcomes Survey reporting that four in five nursing graduates gain employment within three months of graduation.

The Diploma of Nursing is the minimum qualification you need to become an enrolled nurse. Once you successfully complete the course, you can apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, opening the door to a rewarding career in a wide range of healthcare settings.