Embracing renovation and innovation during the pandemic: Application of virtual simulation technology in nurse practitioner education

During pandemics, physical interactivity in the delivery of teaching content are reduced and opportunities to gain clinical experience in healthcare settings are limited. Thus, pandemics may be viewed as tipping points in terms of willingness to embrace renovation and innovation, as using technology properly has the potential to assist educators and students to achieve learning goals and sustain teaching quality. Nursing education integrates knowledge and skills. Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses who need more-advanced interactive and clinical experience to cultivate the high levels of professionalism necessary to make health care decisions and manage health conditions appropriately. This article begins by introducing nurse practitioners (NPs) and current  nurse practitioner education, and then describes the contents of simulation-based education and virtual simulation technology. In addition, steps and applications of simulation-based education in nurse practitioners are illustrated. Lastly, examples of virtual simulation technology applications in NP education are reported. The author hopes this article will encourage all nurses, including nursing students, first line registered nurses, nurse practitioners, nursing administrators, nursing faculty, and nurse officers, to work as a mutually supportive team and use integrated teaching-examine-application aligned with innovative technology to infuse new vitality into nursing education.