In this context, we were visited by the District Hospital Straubing at our VR Lab at OTH Regensburg to present the project to key staff members. Among the participants were Franz Braun, Head of Nursing Services, who oversees the hospital’s nursing operations, and Martina Günther, Public Relations Officer and coordinator for the hospital’s trainees. Both play an important role in supporting innovative approaches to nursing education within the institution.
After a concise introduction to the aims, structure, and potential of the VReduMED project, the focus quickly shifted to hands-on exploration. The participants were able to personally test the VR applications, gain practical insights into their functions, and receive detailed technical guidance from the project team. This was accompanied by a lively exchange of ideas about how VR technology could be integrated into day-to-day training activities on the wards, particularly in ways that complement and enhance traditional teaching methods.
“As part of our pilot phase, we offer educational institutions in the healthcare sector the opportunity to borrow selected scenarios and technology. Above all, we provide them with free consultation and support. This low-threshold offer has been well received,” explains Anselm Stadler, a research associate from the VReduMED team at OTH Regensburg.
Prof. Dr. Christa Mohr, Head of the Nursing Research Laboratory, adds: “By providing guidance during the trial phase, we hope to gain targeted insights into the concrete processes of integrating VR into educational institutions.”
In the weeks ahead, the VR headsets will be actively incorporated into various teaching and training formats at the hospital. This includes, for example, one-on-one learning sessions with trainees directly on the ward. The main objective is to build a stronger bridge between theoretical knowledge and practical application, enabling learners to experience and respond to complex nursing situations in a safe, controlled, and supportive learning environment.
Franz Braun, Nursing Manager, and Martina Günther, IBF, Public Relations Officer and trainee coordinator, both work at the District Hospital in Straubing.
Anselm Stadler, research associate at the VR Lab of OTH Regensburg, attended the meeting to present the VR headsets, supported by student assistant Cheryl Heinz.