Cover Story


Not just for gamers anymore


For online gamers, Second


Virtual reality


Life is an alternate universe — a virtual chance to be rich and famous, to explore different careers and to interact with people from all over the world. For nurses,


Second Life represents a unique training opportunity. Through a joint grant, nursing professors


at Vanderbilt University and the University of Kentucky purchased an “island” in the Second Life world, constructing virtual buildings that mirror real-life clinical settings and developing training simulations that are accessible worldwide. “When you build


Weiner


something in Second Life on your island, it’s like putting together the backdrop for a play,” said Betsy Weiner, PhD, RN-BC, FACMI, FAAN, senior associate dean for informatics at Vanderbilt’s


Frist Nursing Informatics Center. “The nursing informatics students loved it because it was different, and for them it was an alternative way to talk about class content.” The project designers constructed a range


of clinical settings on the island, including acute- and long-term care facilities, private homes with care simulations and an outpatient setting modeled on Vanderbilt’s Eskind Diabetes Clinic. Construction took about 18 months. Many of the virtual buildings are nearly exact replicas of real-life structures, down to the carpet, furniture and wall decor. In each virtual facility, nursing professors


can script simulations or use scripted options. Nursing students then guide their avatars through the simulation, solving


The Second Life training island replicates real-word environments, including Vanderbilt University's Eskind Diabetes Clinic.


problems and addressing challenges they’d face in real life. The island also includes a conference facility, where avatars can gather for lectures, discussions and presentations. To help faculty adapt to the technology, Weiner and her fellow project leaders give virtual tours of the island and share videos of previously run simulations. They also give professors detailed guidance on using avatars and creating scenarios. At the same time, the team is exploring whether Second Life can be used to provide patient care, such as maintenance visits for people with chronic conditions. The Eskind Diabetes Clinic recently ran a pilot project with 10 patients who “visited” their nurse practitioners, nutritionists and physicians in the clinic’s Second Life building. By


Nursing students can guide their avatars through Second Life training simulations, gather for lectures and discussions, and care for patients.


speaking into a microphone or typing a conversation, the clinician and patient can interact without traveling to an


office. Of the 10 patients who tried it, nine loved it and one hated it, Weiner said. “Second Life is not going to be a choice


for every patient,” she said. “You have to like technology and not get stressed out about working your avatar. And clearly you have to have technology and a decent network connection to make it work.” ●


Tell us about it: What innovative tools or


techniques are you using at your training facility?


pubs@indystar.com Indiana Nursing Quarterly • indystar.com/nursing • Spring 2011 11


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