{"id":77685,"date":"2026-06-17T07:59:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T11:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/?p=77685"},"modified":"2026-06-22T07:32:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T11:32:34","slug":"utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\/","title":{"rendered":"UTC nursing students step into virtual simulation as ABSN program pilots new clinical training tool"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"A

ABSN student Marvin Garagan participates in VR simulation in the Metro Annex. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

When students in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga\u2019s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program put on virtual reality headsets this summer, they are stepping into a new kind of clinical learning.<\/p>\n

Thanks to a High Impact Practices Grant from the UTC Walker Center for Teaching and Learning, ABSN students are piloting virtual reality simulation in two College of Nursing clinical courses focused on introducing immersive scenarios in maternal-newborn and pediatric care.<\/p>\n

The pilot is the first time the college has used VR simulation in this way. Faculty say it is aimed at a simple challenge: giving students more consistent practice in a program that moves fast and depends on limited clinical placements.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the biggest factors with us, especially in the accelerated program, is that we\u2019re limited on time,\u201d said Assistant Professor of Practice Savannah Kelley. \u201cThe students have a year to complete all of their clinicals and experiences before they\u2019re licensed. And we really want our students to be able to feel confident going into the clinical setting and have as many hands-on experiences as they can.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Kelley and Lecturer Katie Parker, the appeal of VR was not that it could replace hospital experiences. It was that it could help fill in the gaps that naturally come with them.<\/p>\n

As examples, they explained that students may arrive at a clinical site on a slow day and a particular patient situation may not present itself. Or one student may get a chance to see or do something that another student in the same group never encounters.<\/p>\n

\u201cYesterday, two students were able to see a C-section,\u201d Kelley said. \u201cTwo students were able to give a specific medication or practice a specific nursing skill like an IV placement, but not all the students can do that.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith this VR sim, we can do that. They all have the same experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kelley and Parker selected the specific scenarios with intention. Rather than simply letting students browse through the platform\u2019s large library, the faculty members chose cases they believed would be most useful, especially situations students may be less likely to encounter during a limited run of hospital clinicals.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can ensure everyone has seen a postpartum hemorrhage,\u201d Parker said. \u201cEveryone has seen an asthma exacerbation.\u201d<\/p>\n

That consistency matters even more in the accelerated program, where students complete the same clinical requirements as those in the traditional program, but in a much shorter time.<\/p>\n

\"A

From left: Elise Hart, Assistant Professor of Practice Savannah Kelley, Yayla Blodgett-White and Lecturer Katie Parker.<\/p><\/div>\n

The UTC ABSN program requires 59 credit hours over three semesters, with 21 credit hours dedicated specifically to hands-on clinical settings. Clinicals generally involve 12-hour shifts, multiple days a week, and immerse students in Chattanooga-area hospitals and clinics.<\/p>\n

The program admits a new cohort each fall, spring and summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have the same clinical requirements as the traditional,\u201d Parker said. \u201cIt\u2019s not that we\u2019re doing less clinical hours. We just do them in less time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Walker Center grant funds $1,980 in UbiSim student licenses for about 20 second-semester accelerated nursing students enrolled in NURS 3155, Maternal-Newborn Clinical, and NURS 3165, Pediatric Clinical. The College of Nursing simulation lab is providing headsets at no additional cost to the grant.<\/p>\n

UbiSim is an immersive VR training platform built specifically for nursing education.<\/p>\n

The project includes small-group use, faculty-facilitated debriefing and a three-part structured reflection designed to track how students\u2019 clinical reasoning develops across both courses.<\/p>\n

Kelley said the VR format includes the same required elements as traditional simulation, including preparation, debriefing and reflection.<\/p>\n

Parker said traditional simulation usually requires a faculty member to be present with a set group of students at a set time. VR opens the door for a more flexible model, especially once students become more comfortable with the technology.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis can happen kind of asynchronously, which works well in the rapidity of this program,\u201d she said. \u201cThis allows for a bit more flexibility within the somewhat inflexible schedule they have.\u201d<\/p>\n

Faculty members are still helping students with the technology as the pilot gets underway. The longer-term goal is to allow students to sign up for available times and complete assigned scenarios on a schedule that fits around the rest of their coursework.<\/p>\n

Kelley said the pilot addresses a gap in maternal-newborn and pediatric training because placement availability in both specialties is among the most limited in the Chattanooga region. VR simulation, she said, gives every student standardized exposure to critical scenarios regardless of patient census or site access.<\/p>\n

Parker said the platform helps reinforce the order in which students should assess and respond to patients.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t give a medicine until you scan their armband and confirm the patient and then scan the medication and all the things,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

That kind of repetition, she explained, helps students build habits early.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t have muscle memory to do all these things by habit,\u201d Parker said. \u201cEvery time they recreate that pathway of doing the things in the proper order, doing a proper procedure, that helps ingrain that in their brain.<\/p>\n

Parker said she was really impressed with how realistic the simulation felt when she tried the VR headset.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe IV medication, when it\u2019s running, you can actually see it dripping,\u201d she said. \u201cYou can see the pump running. You can feel their pulses. You can hear their heartbeat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kelley pointed to a detail that stood out to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can shine a pen light into the patient\u2019s eye and it responds like we do in a real assessment,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Both said the goal is not to impress students with the technology. It is to give them more chances to practice clinical judgment before they enter the workforce.<\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately these students are going to be nurses,\u201d Kelley said, \u201cand this is such a practice-based profession.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said more hands-on practice can help students develop clinical judgment and feel more confident before they graduate.<\/p>\n

Dr. Kristen Singletary, clinical associate professor and ABSN program director, said she saw the value right away when Kelley and Parker brought the idea forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was so excited,\u201d Singletary said. \u201cI love the opportunity for them to get to try new things and explore ways to bring clinical judgment to our students.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said the timing also made sense because the College of Nursing\u2019s new Dorothy and Jim Kennedy Health Sciences Building<\/strong><\/a>, scheduled for completion in 2027, will include a room designated for VR simulation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat better time to start than now to figure out how to best use that room,\u201d Singletary said.<\/p>\n

She also tied the pilot to a broader reality facing nursing programs: growth in enrollment does not automatically translate into increased clinical site availability.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re committed to the growth of the ABSN program, enrolling more students, turning out more nurses,\u201d she said, \u201cand as we do that, that comes with less clinical site availability. So we\u2019re just trying to find ways to supplement clinical hours and to teach our students clinical judgment in a safe environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Singletary said the pilot could help the college make smarter decisions before that dedicated VR space opens in the new building.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no way to put a value on that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the sky\u2019s the limit,\u201d Kelley added. \u201cWe could make it grow and we could use it in all of our programs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A

A UbiSim virtual reality nursing scenario shows a patient in a hospital bed as two virtual clinicians provide care in a simulated exam room.<\/p><\/div>\n

Kelley and Parker said they began thinking through the idea as they looked for sustainable ways to strengthen student learning within the limits of time, scheduling and clinical access. After attending presentations by previous Walker Center grant recipients, they believed their proposal fit the kind of innovative teaching project the center wanted to support.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wouldn\u2019t have been able to do this without it,\u201d Singletary said of the grant.<\/p>\n

If the summer pilot produces strong results, Kelley said UbiSim licensing could eventually be built into future ABSN program fees, making the grant a one-time University investment rather than an ongoing funding need.<\/p>\n

Faculty members plan to collect and analyze outcome data through UbiSim\u2019s AI Narrative Analysis, present findings at the Walker Center grant symposium this fall and pursue opportunities to share the work at a national nursing simulation conference and in a peer-reviewed journal.<\/p>\n

Kelley said students complete written reflections after orientation and early sessions, and many have already expressed excitement about the VR experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot everybody who tried it had put on a VR headset,\u201d Kelley said. \u201cThat\u2019s probably the biggest barrier in starting something like this: how comfortable you feel with the technology. They all caught on pretty well.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Singletary, that kind of structured exposure is another way to provide students with a safer place to learn.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt allows them to actually think through \u2018What do I need to assess, what do I need to know about my patient, what actions do I need to take,\u2019\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/h4>\n

UTC College of Nursing<\/a><\/p>\n

Nursing News<\/a><\/p>\n

ABSN Degree Program<\/a><\/p>\n

Visit UTC<\/a><\/p>\n

How to apply<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When students in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga\u2019s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program put on virtual reality headsets this summer, they are stepping into a new kind of clinical learning. Thanks to a High Impact Practices Grant from the UTC Walker Center for Teaching and Learning, ABSN students are piloting virtual reality simulation in two College of Nursing clinical courses focused on introducing immersive scenarios in maternal-newborn and pediatric care.<\/p>\n

Continue Reading <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1493,"featured_media":77694,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_slider":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_featurette":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119404,70,123864,15,3,7712,52,83654,64,4936,661],"tags":[122417,123827,123826,123475,127265,127069,127098,127072,123550,127259,127260,123828,127266,123829,127258,127263,127262,83233,127264],"class_list":{"0":"post-77685","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-academics","8":"category-advancement-and-alumni","9":"category-campus","10":"category-community","11":"category-faculty-and-staff","12":"category-graduate-school","13":"category-health-and-wellness","14":"category-lead-story","15":"category-news","16":"category-school-of-nursing","17":"category-students","18":"tag-absn","19":"tag-creating-the-mocs-experience","20":"tag-cultivating-a-culture-of-innovation","21":"tag-dorothy-and-jim-kennedy-health-sciences-building","22":"tag-elise-hart","23":"tag-goal-1-2-enhance-learner-success-strategic-plan-2030","24":"tag-goal-1-3-placement-strategic-plan-2030","25":"tag-goal-3-1-innovative-and-impactful-research-strategic-plan-2030","26":"tag-high-impact-practices-grant","27":"tag-katie-parker","28":"tag-kristen-singletary","29":"tag-leveraging-our-special-place-as-chattanoogas-university","30":"tag-marvin-garagan","31":"tag-operating-with-excellence","32":"tag-savannah-kelley","33":"tag-ubisim","34":"tag-utc-walker-center-for-teaching-and-learning","35":"tag-virtual-reality","36":"tag-yayla-blodgett-white","37":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nUTC nursing students step into virtual simulation as ABSN program pilots new clinical training tool | UTC News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When students in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga\u2019s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program put on virtual reality headsets this summer, they are stepping into a new kind of clinical learning. Thanks to a High Impact Practices Grant from the UTC Walker Center for Teaching and Learning, ABSN students are piloting virtual reality simulation in two College of Nursing clinical courses focused on introducing immersive scenarios in maternal-newborn and pediatric care.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UTC nursing students step into virtual simulation as ABSN program pilots new clinical training tool | UTC News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When students in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga\u2019s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program put on virtual reality headsets this summer, they are stepping into a new kind of clinical learning. Thanks to a High Impact Practices Grant from the UTC Walker Center for Teaching and Learning, ABSN students are piloting virtual reality simulation in two College of Nursing clinical courses focused on introducing immersive scenarios in maternal-newborn and pediatric care.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"UTC News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UTChattanooga\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-17T11:59:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-22T11:32:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/06\/Virtual-Reality-Training-26-13925-600-72.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"397\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Chuck Wasserstrom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@UTChattanooga\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@UTChattanooga\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Chuck Wasserstrom\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Chuck Wasserstrom\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/028a71bd6215de86078a717b45430622\"},\"headline\":\"UTC nursing students step into virtual simulation as ABSN program pilots new clinical training tool\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-17T11:59:01+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-22T11:32:34+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1576,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/app\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/9\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/Virtual-Reality-Training-26-13925-600-72.jpg?fit=600%2C397&ssl=1\",\"keywords\":[\"ABSN\",\"Creating the Mocs Experience\",\"Cultivating a Culture of Innovation\",\"Dorothy and Jim Kennedy Health Sciences Building\",\"Elise Hart\",\"Goal 1.2 - Enhance Learner Success - Strategic Plan 2030\",\"Goal 1.3 - Placement - Strategic Plan 2030\",\"Goal 3.1 - Innovative and Impactful Research - Strategic Plan 2030\",\"High Impact Practices Grant\",\"Katie Parker\",\"Kristen Singletary\",\"Leveraging Our Special Place as Chattanooga\u2019s University\",\"Marvin Garagan\",\"Operating with Excellence\",\"Savannah Kelley\",\"UbiSim\",\"UTC Walker Center for Teaching and Learning\",\"virtual reality\",\"Yayla Blodgett-White\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Academics\",\"Advancement and Alumni\",\"Campus\",\"Community\",\"Faculty and Staff\",\"Graduate School\",\"Health and Wellness\",\"Lead Story\",\"News\",\"School of Nursing\",\"Students\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\\\/\",\"name\":\"UTC nursing students step into virtual simulation as ABSN program pilots new clinical training tool | UTC News\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/app\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/9\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/Virtual-Reality-Training-26-13925-600-72.jpg?fit=600%2C397&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-17T11:59:01+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-22T11:32:34+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/028a71bd6215de86078a717b45430622\"},\"description\":\"When students in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga\u2019s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program put on virtual reality headsets this summer, they are stepping into a new kind of clinical learning. Thanks to a High Impact Practices Grant from the UTC Walker Center for Teaching and Learning, ABSN students are piloting virtual reality simulation in two College of Nursing clinical courses focused on introducing immersive scenarios in maternal-newborn and pediatric care.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/app\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/9\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/Virtual-Reality-Training-26-13925-600-72.jpg?fit=600%2C397&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/app\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/9\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/Virtual-Reality-Training-26-13925-600-72.jpg?fit=600%2C397&ssl=1\",\"width\":600,\"height\":397,\"caption\":\"A UTC nursing student wears a virtual reality headset in a simulation lab while two faculty members observe and guide the exercise.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"UTC nursing students step into virtual simulation as ABSN program pilots new clinical training tool\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/\",\"name\":\"UTC News\",\"description\":\"Official news releases of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/028a71bd6215de86078a717b45430622\",\"name\":\"Chuck Wasserstrom\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/adff2964e628ba03f65fe21e0b0b94ca0667bdce5def0433d41884758501f284?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/adff2964e628ba03f65fe21e0b0b94ca0667bdce5def0433d41884758501f284?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/adff2964e628ba03f65fe21e0b0b94ca0667bdce5def0433d41884758501f284?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Chuck Wasserstrom\"},\"description\":\"Chuck Wasserstrom is the director of communications in the UTC Division of Communications and Marketing.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/author\\\/wyf557\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"UTC nursing students step into virtual simulation as ABSN program pilots new clinical training tool | UTC News","description":"When students in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga\u2019s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program put on virtual reality headsets this summer, they are stepping into a new kind of clinical learning. Thanks to a High Impact Practices Grant from the UTC Walker Center for Teaching and Learning, ABSN students are piloting virtual reality simulation in two College of Nursing clinical courses focused on introducing immersive scenarios in maternal-newborn and pediatric care.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"UTC nursing students step into virtual simulation as ABSN program pilots new clinical training tool | UTC News","og_description":"When students in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga\u2019s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program put on virtual reality headsets this summer, they are stepping into a new kind of clinical learning. Thanks to a High Impact Practices Grant from the UTC Walker Center for Teaching and Learning, ABSN students are piloting virtual reality simulation in two College of Nursing clinical courses focused on introducing immersive scenarios in maternal-newborn and pediatric care.","og_url":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\/","og_site_name":"UTC News","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UTChattanooga","article_published_time":"2026-06-17T11:59:01+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-06-22T11:32:34+00:00","og_image":[{"width":600,"height":397,"url":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/06\/Virtual-Reality-Training-26-13925-600-72.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Chuck Wasserstrom","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@UTChattanooga","twitter_site":"@UTChattanooga","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Chuck Wasserstrom","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\/"},"author":{"name":"Chuck Wasserstrom","@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/028a71bd6215de86078a717b45430622"},"headline":"UTC nursing students step into virtual simulation as ABSN program pilots new clinical training tool","datePublished":"2026-06-17T11:59:01+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-22T11:32:34+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\/"},"wordCount":1576,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/06\/Virtual-Reality-Training-26-13925-600-72.jpg?fit=600%2C397&ssl=1","keywords":["ABSN","Creating the Mocs Experience","Cultivating a Culture of Innovation","Dorothy and Jim Kennedy Health Sciences Building","Elise Hart","Goal 1.2 - Enhance Learner Success - Strategic Plan 2030","Goal 1.3 - Placement - Strategic Plan 2030","Goal 3.1 - Innovative and Impactful Research - Strategic Plan 2030","High Impact Practices Grant","Katie Parker","Kristen Singletary","Leveraging Our Special Place as Chattanooga\u2019s University","Marvin Garagan","Operating with Excellence","Savannah Kelley","UbiSim","UTC Walker Center for Teaching and Learning","virtual reality","Yayla Blodgett-White"],"articleSection":["Academics","Advancement and Alumni","Campus","Community","Faculty and Staff","Graduate School","Health and Wellness","Lead Story","News","School of Nursing","Students"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\/","url":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\/","name":"UTC nursing students step into virtual simulation as ABSN program pilots new clinical training tool | UTC News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/06\/Virtual-Reality-Training-26-13925-600-72.jpg?fit=600%2C397&ssl=1","datePublished":"2026-06-17T11:59:01+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-22T11:32:34+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/028a71bd6215de86078a717b45430622"},"description":"When students in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga\u2019s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program put on virtual reality headsets this summer, they are stepping into a new kind of clinical learning. Thanks to a High Impact Practices Grant from the UTC Walker Center for Teaching and Learning, ABSN students are piloting virtual reality simulation in two College of Nursing clinical courses focused on introducing immersive scenarios in maternal-newborn and pediatric care.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/06\/Virtual-Reality-Training-26-13925-600-72.jpg?fit=600%2C397&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/06\/Virtual-Reality-Training-26-13925-600-72.jpg?fit=600%2C397&ssl=1","width":600,"height":397,"caption":"A UTC nursing student wears a virtual reality headset in a simulation lab while two faculty members observe and guide the exercise."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/utc-nursing-students-step-into-virtual-simulation-as-absn-program-pilots-new-clinical-training-tool\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"UTC nursing students step into virtual simulation as ABSN program pilots new clinical training tool"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/#website","url":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/","name":"UTC News","description":"Official news releases of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/028a71bd6215de86078a717b45430622","name":"Chuck Wasserstrom","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/adff2964e628ba03f65fe21e0b0b94ca0667bdce5def0433d41884758501f284?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/adff2964e628ba03f65fe21e0b0b94ca0667bdce5def0433d41884758501f284?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/adff2964e628ba03f65fe21e0b0b94ca0667bdce5def0433d41884758501f284?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Chuck Wasserstrom"},"description":"Chuck Wasserstrom is the director of communications in the UTC Division of Communications and Marketing.","url":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/author\/wyf557\/"}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/06\/Virtual-Reality-Training-26-13925-600-72.jpg?resize=600%2C397&ssl=1","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/06\/Virtual-Reality-Training-26-13925-600-72.jpg?resize=600%2C397&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"Chuck Wasserstrom","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/author\/wyf557\/"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/06\/Virtual-Reality-Training-26-13925-600-72.jpg?fit=600%2C397&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1493"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77685"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77685\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":77698,"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77685\/revisions\/77698"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77694"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}