WALTHAM, Mass.– In a significant advancement for healthcare education, Wolters Kluwer Health and Laerdal Medical have enhanced their virtual reality training solution, vrClinicals for Nursing, by integrating conversational artificial intelligence (AI). The upgrade allows nursing students to engage in natural, voice-based interactions with virtual patients, simulating real-world clinical communication and decision-making more accurately than ever before.
First launched in 2023, vrClinicals for Nursing has become a key tool in bridging the gap between classroom instruction and clinical experience. The addition of AI-powered conversations marks a new phase in the platform’s evolution, creating more immersive, multi-patient simulations designed to build student competence and confidence.
“Conversational AI adds another important dimension to nursing education,” said Julie Stegman, Vice President of Health Learning & Practice at Wolters Kluwer.
“It allows students to engage naturally with virtual patients using their own voice, making the experience more lifelike and preparing them for real-world patient interactions.”
Traditional simulation methods often rely on point-and-click interfaces. By contrast, vrClinicals for Nursing now leverages AI to simulate varied patient personalities, communication challenges, and care priorities. This, experts say, not only enhances student engagement but also better reflects the dynamic nature of real healthcare environments.
Dr. Tina Scott, Director of Experiential Learning at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), emphasized the impact of immersive learning tools on student readiness:
“It is impossible to teach everything a nurse will face on the job in the classroom alone. Technologies like VR and AI bridge that gap by offering flexible, experiential learning aligned with clinical realities.”
At NCCU, the use of virtual simulations has become a cornerstone of nursing education, helping students develop clinical skills and confidence prior to entering live care settings.
For nurse educators and institutions, vrClinicals for Nursing presents a scalable, resource-efficient alternative to traditional clinical site placements. The platform reduces reliance on physical simulation centers and moderators, making advanced clinical education more accessible.
Wolters Kluwer and Laerdal’s collaboration underscores a broader trend in medical education: the fusion of emerging technologies like VR and AI to enhance learning outcomes, reduce logistical barriers, and better prepare students for the workforce.
As the healthcare industry increasingly prioritizes digital transformation in education and training, solutions like vrClinicals for Nursing are gaining traction as effective, scalable tools to build a future-ready nursing workforce.
