Boosting nursing students’ confidence & communication skills with AI & VR at UNC Charlotte

About

UNC Charlotte’s School of Nursing runs a comprehensive simulation programme, supporting both undergraduate and graduate students across a range of clinical scenarios.

When Coordinator of Simulation and Interdisciplinary Practice Melinda Pierce identified a gap in soft skills training she turned to Bodyswaps to provide an immersive, reflective learning experience.

• Introduce immersive learning in a scalable, accessible format.
• Build confidence among undergraduates before their first clinical placements.
• Address soft skills gaps and equip students with the communication skills needed for difficult patient interactions.

Deployment

Flexible, curriculum-wide use

Deployed via headsets and laptops, Bodyswaps supports both in-lab and remote learning. It’s now integrated into multiple courses.

Graduate research pilot

Bodyswaps launched in the nurse practitioner program through a research study using the Angry Patient scenario. Students completed pre- and post-assessments to evaluate changes in communication self-efficacy.

Undergraduate clinical prep

Undergrads used Bodyswaps in health assessment and senior simulation to practice patient conversations ahead of clinical placements, boosting confidence and readiness.

Impact

• Increased student confidence: Undergrad students felt more prepared for clinicals after practising with virtual patients.
• Improved self-awareness: Graduate students initially overestimated their skills, but reflective feedback helped them identify gaps.
• Faculty and admin buy-in: Early scepticism shifted to enthusiastic adoption across the school.

Advice

• Start with a small pilot to prove the value and educate administrators on where VR fits into curriculum goals.
• Identify faculty champions to drive integration across courses and use VR & non-VR options to maximise access.

Future plans

In the next academic year, Melinda and the team will be adding Bodyswaps to the placement rotations, acting as a “clinical site” students will rotate through for practice, in order to accommodate a larger group of mental health nursing students.