Student nurses will get a quarter of their practical training using virtual reality in new shake-up 

Nurses are set to be given a quarter of their practical training through virtual reality under new guidelines.

They will be taught how to treat everything from heart attack patients to crash victims using headsets as part of their courses from September.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council wants to give universities more freedom to ‘build student nurses’ skills and confidence in complex care scenarios’.

Universities will now be able to use simulations for up to 600 of the required 2,300 practice learning hours.

Nurses will be taught how to treat everything from heart attack patients to crash victims using headsets

Dennis Reed of Silver Voices, a campaign group for the elderly, said virtual reality could not replace human interactions

The training will encompass real-life scenarios to help students develop their knowledge and skills.

The NMC said the decision followed months of research involving educators, students and experts. 

Andrea Sutcliffe, the council’s chief executive, said it was essential that nursing and midwifery education prepared students to meet more complex needs.

She added: ‘Thanks to the changes we’re making, universities will have more freedom to use increasingly sophisticated simulated practice learning that builds student nurses’ skills and confidence in complex care scenarios.

‘And it will help ensure students get the most relevant practice placements that support their educational needs. All of which will equip them to deliver safe, effective and kind care for people now and in the future.’

But Dennis Reed of Silver Voices, a campaign group for the elderly, said virtual reality could not replace human interactions. 

He added: ‘Where will all this end? We are talking about medical care of human beings, not machines.’