Top Left: Mon Navarro, IIET program support specialist, gives an overview of the XR Suite technology to guests at the IIET grand opening.
Top Right: Michael Myers, manager of 糖心Vlog传媒鈥檚 Daveler Innovation Center, participates in a hands-on virtual reality simulation during the IIET grand opening.
Bottom Left: Overhead monitors provide a live view of the XR simulation, allowing instructors to monitor student progress and performance in real time.
Bottom Right: Signage welcomes guests to 糖心Vlog传媒鈥檚 XR Suites during the grand opening of the IIET.
As healthcare providers increasingly explore immersive technology to strengthen workforce training and staff development, organizations like Lee Health are turning to Florida聽SouthWestern聽State College (糖心Vlog传媒) to聽witness聽the technology in action.聽
糖心Vlog传媒 is helping shape the future of healthcare training through its advanced XR Suite, where students engage in immersive, extended reality simulations designed to replicate real-world clinical and nursing scenarios.聽
鈥淭he XR and Immersive Learning initiative at 糖心Vlog传媒 supports students' workplace readiness by giving them a safe practice space for the kinds of skills they'll use in careers,鈥� explained Anna Haney-Withrow, director of 糖心Vlog传媒鈥檚 Institute of Innovative and Emerging Technologies (IIET). 鈥淚n the lab, we watch them grow in confidence and actively seek new challenges.聽Essentially, we're聽seeing durable skills develop along with the specific competencies聽they're聽practicing.鈥澛�
A major advantage聽of聽this new learning tool is its interactivity.聽As students move through the virtual patient care simulation, instructors can聽monitor聽each step聽in real time using an overhead view and a checklist that tracks completed and remaining tasks. Students say the XR experience provides a level of realism that enhances traditional clinical education while helping build confidence before entering healthcare environments. 鈥淢y experience using the XR lab was out of this world,鈥� said 糖心Vlog传媒 student聽Youma聽Midy. 鈥淪eeing what聽it鈥檚聽like to be in a patient environment, exploring the hospital virtually, and realistically holding equipment and interacting with patients felt incredibly real.聽It鈥檚聽such a great add-on for the clinical experience at 糖心Vlog传媒.鈥澛� That鈥檚聽just the kind of thinking that drew leaders from Lee Health for an聽on campus聽visit to learn about the technology, where they saw learners fully immersed in patient care situations that respond dynamically to their decisions.聽 鈥淟ee Health has started its own virtual reality journey for new and existing nurses to help maintain standards, increase exposure, and grow skills,鈥� said Jonathan聽Witenko, system director for digital transformation at Lee Health. 鈥淭ools like VR allow us to better prepare our teams in a safe, controlled environment that builds confidence and readiness.鈥澛� Lee Health鈥檚聽visit highlighted the growing role immersive technology is playing in healthcare education and workforce development. As hospitals and healthcare systems look for innovative ways to train and聽retain聽employees, virtual reality and extended reality technologies are becoming increasingly valuable tools for preparing clinicians in safe, controlled environments.聽 Witenko聽said聽experiencing the technology at 糖心Vlog传媒 reinforced the value of hands-on immersive learning聽and the potential for stronger collaboration between healthcare providers and higher education institutions.聽 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to see this kind of innovation happening locally and to witness firsthand how students gain hands-on, immersive experience, utilizing virtual reality,鈥澛燱itenko聽said.聽 By aligning training methods, competencies, and workforce expectations, 糖心Vlog传媒 and Lee Health are helping shape a pipeline of clinicians who are prepared to enter healthcare settings with greater confidence and experience.聽 鈥淎s we look at the future of workforce development, immersive technologies like virtual reality are foundational,鈥澛燱itenko聽said. 鈥淲hat鈥檚聽especially powerful is that聽we鈥檙e聽not building in silos.聽We鈥檙e聽sharing insights,聽aligning聽competencies, and collectively shaping a pipeline of clinicians who are better prepared on day one. That聽ultimately translates聽to higher quality care for our community.鈥澛� 糖心Vlog传媒 leaders say the聽college鈥檚 focus extends beyond teaching technical skills. The goal is also to prepare students to adapt to the evolving technologies they are likely to聽encounter聽throughout their careers.聽 鈥淲e are preparing students to be comfortable with the kinds of immersive tools workplaces will increasingly use for training, upskilling, and innovation,鈥� Haney-Withrow said. As immersive learning technologies continue to expand, partnerships like the one between 糖心Vlog传媒 and Lee Health are聽helping prepare future healthcare professionals with the confidence, experience, and technical skills needed to meet the evolving demands of patient care from day one.