In September, NSW Health Minister Ryan Park launched a new virtual reality stroke training module for emergency nurses. Developed by the ACI and the University of Newcastle, it's now available at 27 hospitals across NSW.
Watch the 7 News report on the launch of virtual reality stroke nurse training
The immersive training module takes emergency department nurses through an acute stroke presentation using virtual reality (VR) headsets for individual training, or it can be cast onto a screen for group sessions.
“Stroke is a time-critical medical emergency and this technology will help to improve outcomes for people presenting with stroke,” Mr Park said, launching the program at the Royal North Shore Hospital Stroke Unit.
“Fast response and treatment of stroke is vital to saving lives and improving recovery. By simulating a real-time scenario, this training will give emergency nurses practise in how to handle those first critical minutes.”
Improving access to best practice care in rural and regional areas
This new training program is targeted at smaller rural and regional hospitals, where staff may have limited exposure to stroke presentations.
It complements the successful NSW Telestroke Service, which uses video consultation to provide people living in rural and regional NSW with rapid access to specialist stroke diagnoses and treatment. Telestroke is now operating in 23 hospitals across NSW, which now also have access to the nurse training module, along with four metropolitan hospitals.
"VR training gives nurses access to best practice stroke training to improve patient outcomes, especially in regional areas where a local hospital does not receive the same volume of stroke patients as its city counterparts."
Development and collaboration
The nurse stroke training module is a collaboration between the ACI and the University of Newcastle's Centre for Advanced Training Systems, using their bespoke TACTICS VR platform.
“This module joins one already released for Telestroke, with another Telestroke module in the pipeline,” says ACI Stroke Network Manager Danielle Wheelwright.
“Staff find the immersive, interactive and evidence-based training easy to use, and it improves their confidence in best practice clinical care,” adds Professor Rohan Walker, Program Director from the University of Newcastle.
Rohan worked with project lead Dr Stephen Maltby, ACI staff and several NSW Health nurses to develop the module. One of those nurses is ACI Stroke Network Nursing Co-chair Amanda Buzio. She collaborated with members of the Australasian Stroke Nurses Education Network (including Sheila Jala, Liz O’Brien and Kylie Tastula) to develop and record the training that takes nurses through their role, from the time a stroke patient presents to hospital through to treatment.
“Nurses are the key to making sure a patient is monitored properly,” says Amanda. “When you upskill nurses in this area, they can anticipate what the next steps are; make decisions; and refer to the onsite medical team or NSW Telestroke Service, where appropriate.”
To learn more about the nurse stroke training module, email ACI-Stroke@health.nsw.gov.au.