Simulated experiences using virtual reality (VR) can help oncology nurses alleviate a patient’s anxiety before undergoing treatment, provide comfort in palliative care settings, and serve as an educational tool for both nurses and patients.
Oncology Nursing News spoke with Emery Bergey, MSN, RN, OCN, HNB-BC, clinical nurse specialist at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, to learn more about how her institution and others are using VR to help patients and educate nurses.
How is VR is currently being used in oncology nursing?
VR is currently being used as a way to relieve patients’ anxiety and stress, in particular, during procedures [and] during chemotherapy to reduce anxiety. We actually did a project here at Moffitt, where we provided the patients with VR headsets on their first day of chemotherapy treatment, when everything’s very overwhelming, when they’re very scared. And when we put that headset on, we noticed patients immediately calmed down. There was one patient that stated that she was feeling tremors. When she put the headset on, her tremors ceased, and then they didn’t come back after the activity was completed. That was very rewarding.
It’s also being used in palliative care settings. It’s associated a lot with that concept of a “good death.” Sometimes patients are hospitalized and providing them the opportunity to be on a beach or somewhere that brings them joy, that can really help with that peaceful passing. In addition, there’s a program that allows family members the opportunity to record their voices or to be present through an avatar or their photos, so the patient can actually see that on the VR headset. So that’s been really, really peaceful.
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Darlene Dobkowskim MA / Oncology Nursing News
