Virtual Reality-Based Simulation for Emergency Nursing Education: Development and Pilot Study of a Cardiac Arrest Scenario

This paper explores the development and preliminary evaluation of a simulation system designed to train nursing students to handle cardiac arrest situations. The simulation, developed using Unity for Meta Quest devices, creates a high-fidelity immersive environment where users interact with multiple patients, monitor vital signs, and respond to emergencies. The system incorporates continuous alarms, auditory cues, and haptic feedback to replicate real-world stressors. A pilot study conducted evaluated the system's feasibility as an educational tool through pre- and post-assessment surveys. The evaluation focused on user experience, engagement, and cognitive load in simulated high-pressure medical scenarios. The results demonstrate that immersive virtual reality technology can provide a secure and efficient environment for enhancing clinical decision making skills while maintaining psychological fidelity.