Enhancing nurse-parent partnership for NICU nurses by investigating multi-modal learning with a hybrid simulation approach that integrates metaverses and real-world training

Abstract

Aim: To design and evaluate a multimodal learning approach with hybrid simulation, combining metaverse-based and real-world elements to strengthen the family-centered partnership competencies of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses.

Background: NICU nurses encounter considerable difficulties in establishing and sustaining strong collaborations with parents, which are crucial for caring for high-risk infants. Therefore, it is important for NICU nurses to develop higher-level partnership competencies to support family-centered care. This study describes the development, implementation and evaluation of a multimodal learning program with hybrid simulation intended to improve NICU nurses' competency in promoting family-centered partnerships.

Design: This study used a pre-post quasi-experimental design.

Methods: This study involved 46 NICU nurses employed at a university hospital in South Korea, assigned to either an experimental or control group. The experimental group participated in a multimodal program combining metaverse-based and real-world simulation sessions aimed at enhancing nurse-parent partnerships, emotional intelligence, problem-solving skills and learning realism.

Results: The experimental group showed greater learning realism than the control group (t = 3.73, p = 0.001). However, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding parent-nurse partnership competency, problem-solving skills, or emotional intelligence.

Conclusions: This program has the innovative potential to enhance nurses' learning experiences through mulitmdal learning with hybrid simulations combining metaverse. This approach could replace or strengthen existing education methods with comparable efficiency to traditional methods.

Keywords: Family centered care; Hybrid simulation; Metaverse; Nurses; Partnership.