Singapore General Hospital has started training its nurses on how to insert IV tubes using VR technology.
A team of SGH nurses, together with Serious Games Asia and sensor solution developer Microtube Technologies, have developed a gamified role-playing training module called IV NIMBLE (Nursing Innovation in Learning). mobility-based training) to enhance nurse training.
This module includes a virtual patient avatar that nurses can practice talking to; a 3D printed hand that mimics the texture of human skin; and a pressure sensing glove to measure the pressure of the catheter. It also collects and presents data through an analytics dashboard for review.
First tested six months ago by approximately 120 SGH nurses, IV NIMBLE is supported by a grant from the Singapore University of Social Sciences’ Institute of Adult Learning and the Adoption Grant of SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Innovation Institute.
WHY IT IMPORTANT
SGH turns to VR training to help their new nurses become more confident and equipped to deliver IVs to patients. It notes that a typical IV training, which involves inserting a catheter into a silicone mannequin arm, can be daunting for nurses. This common procedure can take many nurses time and training to master, it added.
The project team behind IV NIMBLE plans to improve the technology by creating 3D printed hands with common medical conditions and elderly people. More avatars and patient scenarios will also be coming to the show.
Future adaptations of IV NIMBLE will also provide VR training for other invasive procedures, such as venipuncture for blood collection and chest tube placement.
TREND TO BIGGER
Last year, many university hospitals across Asia started adopting VR to enhance medical and nurse training. The For example, Hong Kong Polytechnic University tested a Virtual Hospital learning system that simulates a real-life hospital ward. It features 11 games, five learning scenarios and over 1,200 random and multiple choice combinations. Royal Mahidol University in Thailand, in partnership with Japanese VR provider Jolly Good, also started a VR program to train students in infectious disease treatment. Another Singaporean organization, tHe The National Institute of Neuroscience, has partnered with VR medical content platform Kyalio to create neurosurgery training modules to support ongoing training for doctors and their students , who had to postpone training during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, in Australia, the company trains first responders Real Response, with support from the Department of Defense, recently unveiled its VR service called Virtual Tactical Combat Care, which conducts medical training for combat physicians.
ON PROFILE
“Through IV NIMBLE, we hope new nurses, and even medical students who need to learn how to insert a catheter, will feel more confident and better equipped with the skills to do so. there after training,” said Andrea Choh, senior nurse manager at SGH and head. project IV NIMBLE.
