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INOVACIJE I IZAZOVI U OBRAZOVANJU I SESTRINSKOJ SKRBI - KNJIGA SAŽETAKA

Innovations and Challenges in Education and Nursing Care

Educators worldwide are striving to expand their educational capacities by applying innovative
strategies in their work. Within the nursing profession, there is a clear stance that significant
improvements are needed in current curricula and the introduction of innovations. While
simulation is not a novel concept in healthcare education, there is a trend to transform this
simulation into “technology-enhanced simulation” or what is commonly referred to as Virtual
Reality. Simulation is a method through which students gain artificial or virtual experiences
without the risks associated with real-world activities, yet they encounter fairly realistic
conditions. The use of simulation directly facilitates knowledge acquisition and the
development of critical thinking. It enhances technology skills and allows the application of
theoretical knowledge in practical demonstrations. Traditional learning methods fail to meet the
divergent expectations of the so-called Z-generation, which comprises individuals born and
raised in the digital era. Author Young reported a significant difference in a study where an
experimental group was trained using simulation. This experimental group demonstrated
significantly higher communication skills and clinical competencies than the control group.
Numerous similar studies underscore the transformation of nursing education pedagogy from
theory to clinical skills. Moreover, simulations are essential for fostering critical thinking during
skill acquisition. There is no room for this in real-world medicine. Throughout the years of
development and history, the approach to training and adopting new skills has always teetered
on the ethical edge. Such virtually created reality allows learners to “pause time,” proceed
through steps slowly and multiply attempts without causing harm. Additionally, it alleviates
students’ fears and anxiety while enabling the development of routines. In virtual reality, the
presentation of surroundings can be customized down to the finest details, allowing dynamic
changes to be visible and modifiable (e.g., symptom development). This method places
significant emphasis on decision-making skills and critical thinking.

Key words: nursing education, simulation, virtual reality, Z-generation

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