Virtual Reality Interprofessional Simulation Education to Improve Teamwork and the Culture of Safety in the Emergency Department

Abstract

This project evaluates the impact of interprofessional virtual reality (VR) simulation-based education on teamwork, communication, safety culture, and technology acceptance among emergency department (ED) clinicians at a large, Level I Trauma center. Using immersive VR scenarios, interprofessional teams of nurses and physicians engage in structured clinical simulations to enhance collaborative practice and reduce latent patient safety threats. Outcomes are measured using tools with validity evidence, including the TeamSTEPPS Teamwork Attitudes Questionnaire (T-TAQ), safety culture surveys, and a VR technology acceptance model. A secondary objective is to assess the effect of this intervention on nurse retention rates. The project emphasizes simulation as a proactive tool for fostering safety culture and improving clinical communication. This work contributes to advancing human-centered training and design in healthcare and offers scalable, evidence-based approaches to interprofessional education, with implications for curriculum development and system-wide safety initiatives.