FSW embraces virtual reality to train students for real life

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

College is meant to prepare students for the real world. That often involves textbooks, lectures, and long hours on a computer.

But in a field like nursing, the most valuable learning happens at a patient’s bedside — a high-stakes environment where mistakes can carry serious consequences.

That’s why Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) is introducing a new virtual reality lab designed to give students hands-on clinical experience without putting real patients at risk.

Gulf Coast News anchor Alex Howard put on a headset to see how the technology works.

Applause filled the room as faculty and students gathered for a first look at the immersive training environment.

“It’s incredibly realistic,” one observer remarked while watching a simulation unfold.

Inside FSW’s new VR lab, students step into detailed hospital scenarios that mirror real clinical settings.

“In terms of just going into a room and checking on a patient, this is just so accurate,” a participant said.

Registered nurse Olnise Exavier tried the virtual tool and said she wishes it had been available when she was in school.

“When I was in school, they had simulations, but it wasn’t where you are physically doing it,” Exavier said. “You were sitting down at a computer and going through the experience — not immersed — where you are actually feeling the whole thing.”

Lab manager Mon Navarro says the VR headsets serve two key purposes: hands-on experience and observation.

“Everything the student is doing from the inside is reflected in an overhead view,” Navarro explained. “It’s displayed here along with a checklist of what he or she needs to do.”

FSW’s nursing leadership plans to integrate the technology into regular clinical training.

“Eventually, this will be part of their clinical day,” the nursing school dean said. “We’ll bring 18 students twice during the day into the VR lab. They will be graded individually on their skills, and we will see what we can improve.”

The simulations can extend beyond nursing, placing students into realistic scenarios where they can make mistakes and learn from them without real-world consequences.

Students navigating the system appeared confident — though not every attempt was flawless.

“Oh no, I screwed up,” one student said during a simulation.

“You are put in a virtual environment where interactivity is key,” Navarro added. “Studies show that students learn more when they are actually doing the task instead of just reading about it.”

With precision training and lifelike scenarios, the virtual lab aims to sharpen clinical skills before students enter real emergency situations — where preparation can make all the difference.

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