The Efficacy of Online Visually Enhanced Mental Simulation in Nursing Students’ Management of Lethal Rhythms

This study examined the efficacy of online visually enhanced mental simulation (VEMS) in nursing students' management of lethal rhythms. The study population consisted of third-year students enrolled in the intensive care nursing course at a university's nursing department. The sample included 31 students who volunteered to participate and met the inclusion criteria. First, students completed an online theoretical course on lethal rhythm management as part of their intensive care curriculum. One week after the theoretical training, they took a pre-test. Next, they participated in simulation training, which included debriefing and online VEMS sessions. Finally, 1 week after the simulation, students completed the post-test. The post-test scores showed a statistically significant improvement in students' abilities to recognize lethal rhythms and perform initial assessments. The findings indicate that online VEMS is an effective educational approach for improving nursing students' abilities to recognize lethal rhythms and perform initial assessments. Accordingly, incorporating online VEMS into the nursing curriculum is recommended as a cost-effective strategy to promote nontechnical skills in online learning environments.