Cara is joined by Lora Sparkman, RN, BSN, MHA, to discuss the evolution of healthcare education from classroom-based learning to implementing the use of virtual reality training software. Lora walks listeners through the different categories of extended reality training, what they could look like in an educational setting, and the positive impact it has on knowledge retention. The pair talk about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on incoming nursing professionals and how virtual reality training can improve competency levels efficiently and effectively.
Lora Sparkman has been a nurse for 37 years (10 at the bedside, 27 in Health Administration). She has led patient safety and improvement work for over 22 years, specifically using software and technology to advance healthcare education to improve clinician competency for better patient outcomes. For the past five years, she has served as a clinical leader at Relias, one of the largest healthcare education and workforce solutions providers in the U.S. leading the industry in healthcare workforce readiness. Sparkman was recognized as a top 10 Women Leaders in Healthcare Software in 2022 by Becker's, and top 25 Women Leaders in Healthcare Software by The Healthcare Technology Report. Additionally, she completed a mini docuseries on Maternal Mortality and the role of the Nurse sponsored by the BBC Storyworks and the International Council of Nurses in 2022.
Key Takeaways
- [01:49] Introduction to the episode and today’s guest.
- [08:51] Lora’s work in OB program improvement for increased patient safety.
- [18:38] Healthcare education and the possibilities of virtual reality training.
- [24:37] The different types of extended reality and their use cases in the healthcare space.
- [28:46] The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare training and how virtual reality can bridge the gap.
- [33:27] The next steps in virtual reality training.
- [41:06] Closing remarks and goodbyes.
