The Nursing Program at the Margaret Perez Hattori-Uchima School of Health at the University of Guam is advancing nursing education through a powerful combination of high-fidelity and virtual simulation. These immersive, state-of-the-art tools give nursing students the chance to practice critical clinical skills in realistic, controlled environments before they ever care for real patients.
Using cutting-edge technologies – including SimX, which employs the use of Oculus Meta Quest virtual reality headsets, vSim for Nursing from Lippincott, and Laerdal’s High Fidelity Manikin Simulation Systems – the program bridges classroom theory with hands-on experience. These innovations directly support the program’s commitment to the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) standards by ensuring every student demonstrates clinical competence, sound judgment, and readiness for practice in Guam’s evolving health care landscape.
Learning That Feels Real
Inside the simulation lab, nursing students experience patient care scenarios that look, sound, and feel just like the real thing. High-fidelity manikins such as SimMan, SimMom, and SimBaby breathe, speak, and respond to medications or interventions, allowing students to make clinical decisions and see their outcomes in real time. Each simulation is carefully designed to reinforce course objectives – ranging from emergency response and maternal care to pediatric assessment and community health. Students work together in teams, communicate with realism, and learn the critical thinking and compassion that define professional nursing.
For Guam, where access to diverse clinical sites can be limited, simulation ensures all nursing students receive consistent, equitable, and transformative clinical learning opportunities that align with national standards for excellence.
“Once you’re in there, it doesn’t feel like class anymore,” a senior nursing student explained. “You’re actually thinking through real patient problems, and if you mess up, you learn right away without harming anyone.”
Virtual Reality: A New Dimension in Learning
The UOG Nursing Program is also leading the region in the use of virtual reality simulation. Through the SimX platform, students don Oculus Meta Quest VR headsets to enter immersive, 360-degree clinical environments. Inside these digital worlds, students assess patients, communicate with virtual team members, and make real-time clinical decisions that mirror actual nursing practice.
SimX brings an entirely new level of realism and engagement to nursing education. Students can practice high-stakes scenarios – such as pediatric asthma, cardiac arrest, or caring for multiple patients – without leaving the classroom. Faculty can observe, assess, and provide feedback immediately after each session. This technology not only strengthens decision-making and teamwork but also increases accessibility. Forthcoming plans are to allow students to repeat scenarios as needed or maybe even participate remotely, ensuring that learning continues beyond traditional lab hours and into the future of nursing education.
Preparing for the Future: New Equipment and Facilities
The Nursing Program is currently awaiting the arrival of a new Laerdal SimMan Essential and several of Laerdal’s High-Fidelity Nursing Annes, which will further expand the range of available clinical scenarios – from emergency care to everyday nursing practice. The upcoming Nursing Annex will house the new Learning Resource Center and Nursing Skills Lab. This modern facility will feature expanded space for simulation, skills training, and inter-professional collaboration. With dedicated areas for high-fidelity, virtual, and skills-based learning, students will gain the confidence and expertise needed to meet the growing health care needs of the island and the Pacific.
“The new Nursing Annex will change how we teach and learn,” says Jennifer M. Salas, BSN, RN, Learning Resources Center Coordinator. “It’s a practical, people-centered space where technology and teamwork support the next generation of nurses for Guam and the Pacific Basin.”
A Vision for Excellence
Through its integration of Laerdal simulation systems, vSim, and SimX virtual reality technology, the University of Guam, Margaret Perez Hattori-Uchima School of Health’s Nursing Program stands proudly at the forefront of nursing education innovation in the Pacific. The combination of advanced technology, skilled faculty, and a commitment to ACEN’s standards ensures that each graduate leaves UOG ready to serve, lead, and make a meaningful difference in the health of Guam and beyond.
“I froze for a moment during the VR scenario because the kid’s breathing was getting worse, and it felt so real,” one nursing student shared. “But afterward I realized that was the point. I’d rather freeze here and learn from it than in front of an actual patient.”
Through cutting edge simulation technology like VR and high-fidelity manikins, UOG is preparing the next generation of nurses for excellence, compassion, and service in Guam and the Pacific.
Dr. David J. Dunham is a faculty member of the University of Guam, Margaret Perez Hattori-Uchima School of Health’s, Nursing Program. His teaching and research, continues to focus on simulation-based learning, curriculum innovation, and advancing clinical education to support excellence in nursing practice throughout Guam and the Pacific region.
UOG Horizons: Knowledge for Life is a weekly column on agriculture, food, nutrition, health and wellness, and natural resources written by faculty from the University of Guam School of Health and from UOG’s Land Grant extension service and research center.
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