Purpose
This pilot study aimed to develop a virtual reality (VR) nursing simulation for pediatric pneumonia care tailored to the Korean clinical context and evaluate its educational effectiveness for nursing students.
Methods
A single-group pretest–posttest design was employed with 20 senior nursing students from April to May 2025. The intervention was a 70-minute VR nursing simulation of pediatric pneumonia care, structured with pre-briefing, a main scenario, and debriefing. Data were collected on participants’ knowledge of pediatric pneumonia, clinical judgment (Nursing Clinical Judgment Scale), and simulation effectiveness (Simulation Effectiveness Tool-Modified) before and after the intervention. Usability (User Experience Questionnaire) and qualitative feedback were collected after the intervention. Pre-post comparisons were performed using paired t-tests.
Results
The program did not yield a statistically significant change in knowledge scores (p=.893). However, there were significant improvements in the mean scores for clinical judgment (p<.001) and simulation effectiveness (p=.013). A qualitative analysis revealed that, while the participants found the experience immersive and realistic, they also reported operational difficulties, indicating the need for usability improvements.
Conclusion
The VR nursing simulation is a promising pedagogical tool for enhancing nursing students’ clinical judgment and perceived learning effectiveness in a Korean pediatric context. The findings suggest that, while the intervention was effective in improving practical reasoning, future iterations should focus on reinforcing knowledge acquisition and optimizing user experience to maximize the educational impact.

Citations

• Effects of an acute myocardial infarction simulation on nursing students’ clinical judgment: Integrating faculty- and self-assessments
  Hwa Sun Kim
  Clinical Simulation in Nursing.2026; 112: 101895.     CrossRef
• ORGANIZATION OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS IN “CLINICAL NURSING IN PEDIATRICS” UNDER WARTIME CONDITIONS ON THE MOODLE PLATFORM: CHALLENGES AND ADAPTATION
  N. I. Makieieva, M. S. Diachenko, V. E. Domnich, V. V. Andrushchenko, V. A. Koval
  Медсестринство.2025; (3-4): 54.     CrossRef

Purpose
This study systematically analyzed cases in South Korea wherein nurses were prosecuted for involuntary manslaughter or injury due to professional negligence in pediatric care.
Methods
We analyzed the precedents using the methodology of Hall and Wright (2008) and Austin (2010). Of the 618 cases retrieved from the Supreme Court Decisions Retrieval System in South Korea, we selected the 12 cases in which children were the victims and nurses were the defendants, using a case screening methodology.
Results
The most frequent penalty was a fine, and newborns were the most frequent victims. The distribution of cases according to Austin's violation categories was: improper administration of medications (n=5), failure to monitor for and report deterioration (n=4), ineffective communication (n=4), failure to delegate responsibly (n=4), failure to know and follow facility policies and procedures (n=1), and improper use of equipment (n=1).
Conclusion
To ensure the safety of children, nurses are required to teach and practice a high standard of care. Nursing education programs must improve nurses’ awareness of their legal obligations. Nursing organizations and leaders should also work towards enacting effective nursing laws and ensuring that nurses are aware of their legal rights and responsibilities.