Virtual reality for nurses: Resilience training of the future!

Virtual reality for nurses: Resilience training of the future!

Med Uni Graz, Graz, Österreich - The psychological stress in healthcare reaches alarming dimensions! Around 27 percent of nurses show significant deficits in their resilience in terms of their ability to deal with stressful situations. This has prompted the Medical University of Graz and its partner institutions to launch the EU project XR2esilience that pursues innovative approaches to strengthening mental health from nursing staff. The focus is on the integration of extended reality (XR) technologies that enable employees to use virtual training environments in order to specifically improve their resistance, such as medunigraz.at reported.

Innovative training programs for increasing resilience

The project aims to not only give the nursing staff theory, but also practical tools in order to promote their mental health in the long term. The development of a three -part training plan that relies on techniques such as mindfulness and stress management is already in full swing. Exciting technologies such as VR glasses are used here, with which the nursing staff can immerse themselves in relaxing virtual environments. Nina Dalkner, the project manager, explains that the participants can learn breathing exercises and relaxation techniques, among other things, by scenarios in a virtual nature or on a beach, as described.

In a first pilot project, a concept has already been successfully developed that not only promotes resilience, but can also be realistically implemented in practice. A room of just three by three meters, VR glasses and about 15 minutes are enough to immerse yourself in an individual training program. The program could also include virtual treatment rooms in which the employees can simulate typical work situations in order to experience self -efficacy and to go better in real stressful situations.

The positive effect of such training methods could have far -reaching consequences for the health sector by improving the mental health of the staff and thus also fighting the current shortage of personnel in hospitals. This future -oriented project is not only funded by the EU at around € 5.95 million, but is also in cooperation with numerous European institutes, which underlines its importance and innovative strength.