# Validation of an Immersive Virtual Reality Based Experiential Learning Simulator to Improve Medication Administration Safety Skills of Registered Nurses

> **NIH NIH R03** · BAYLOR RESEARCH INSTITUTE · 2020 · $31,032

## Abstract

Project Summary
In the United States, approximately 2 % of all hospital inpatients have experienced harmful effects
from errors associated with the administration of medications. Such errors have also contributed
to increased length of stay of up to 10 days for hospitalized patients. 38% of errors related to
medication happens during administration. A medication administration error is defined as a
“deviation from the prescriber’s medication order as written on a patient’s record, manufacturer’s
preparation, administration instructions, or institutional policies/ procedures”. The Joint
Commission’s 2017 National Patient Safety Goals affirm the continued importance of medication
administration to patient safety by establishing a goal focused on improving the use of
medications within hospitals. The recommendations from The Joint Commission include labeling
all medications and medication containers; verification of all medication and solutions both
verbally and visually by two qualified individuals; and proper review of medications by entering
and exiting staff during shift changes. As healthcare professionals, Registered Nurses have the
responsibility to safely administer diverse classifications of medications to patients within
community hospital settings. The Joint Commission recommendations can only be effective when
Registered Nurses directly involved in the medication administration process can be trained in
adhering to proposed protocols. Moreover, unexpected interruptions and other human factors
related to stress, lack of sleep, and education level have potential to interfere with the medication
administration process and contribute to an adverse patient safety event. Additionally,
technological advances such as bar code and computer administration programs make it
necessary for nursing professionals to keep up-to-date on knowledge and expected practice
behaviors associated with medication administration. Moreover, scheduling of training time, cost,
and a lack of optimal educational platforms impact the capacity of hospital institutions to offer
continued medication administration safety competency training to the practicing nurse. In order
to address the above issues and provide training in a simulation environment, we propose to
develop a an immersive virtual reality experiential simulation environment to train nursing
professionals in safe medication administration. We propose two specific aims to achieve and
prove the effectiveness of our simulator. In aim 1 we will develop the simulator with capabilities
to simulate all aspects of medication administration. In aim 2, we will conduct validation studies
to prove face, content and predictive validity of the simulator.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10001035
- **Project number:** 5R03EB026171-02
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Kelly Rossler
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $31,032
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-01 → 2021-01-15

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10001035

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10001035, Validation of an Immersive Virtual Reality Based Experiential Learning Simulator to Improve Medication Administration Safety Skills of Registered Nurses (5R03EB026171-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10001035. Licensed CC0.

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