The simulation unit team, led by Encarna Rodríguez and Jordi Castillo, lecturers and researchers from the Department of Nursing, has developed the project “Comparison of moulage and virtual reality for teaching, assessing and managing wounds in nursing students”, which compares learning methods using mannequins and
virtual reality in wound care and aims to determine which is more effective for developing students’ practical skills.

As the researchers note, “Wound management is a fundamental nursing competency, particularly in light of an ageing population and the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions. However, practical training in this area remains a challenge, as students are not always able to engage actively in wound care during clinical placements, and in some instances, no suitable cases arise at all.” In this regard, both moulage simulations and virtual reality ‘have been shown to improve learning, although there is no consensus on which methodology is most effective,’ add. Therefore, researchers from the Department of Nursing have decided to use this project to evaluate which tool best promotes theoretical learning, practical skills and student
confidence in wound management.

The results of the study will help to improve the quality of practical nursing education, providing guidance on which methodology is most effective according to the training objectives.

The study, led by lecturer and researcher Patricia Martínez from the Department of Nursing, is part of the line of research developed in the degree programme, which focuses on the design and applicability of clinical simulation to strengthen both the specific and cross-cutting skills of students. The end goal of this line of research is to train professionals who can offer high-quality care, which focuses on the person and patient safety.