NursED
Escape in Nursing!
NursED is a virtual reality game that illustrates the work of a nurse in a fun way. The goal is to inspire new students to enter the field.
The pressing challenges of nursing shortages and declining applicant numbers in the field demand our attention and innovative solutions to attract students to the profession.
To address this issue, the NursED VR game was developed in collaboration with Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences and KAMK, funded by the European Social Fund (ESR) in the UraXR project.
Gameplay
Through the NursED game, players can get acquainted with the work of a nurse in a fun way, solving work-related challenges in various virtual reality environments.
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NursED is a multiplayer game, meaning players work together to solve the challenges. In the game, players move through various nursing work environments.
The game starts in a changing room, the moves the player through varying levels, including a classroom with anatomical setups and hospital with tasks to distribute medications.
Players also need to prepare patients for MRI scans and surgeries. The final setting is a home, with the game's difficulty increasing progressively, making the home environment the most challenging.
Game Design
The Clever Serious gaming team performed the technical development of the game, designing the challenges and plot to function as a complete gaming experience.
NursED is developed for Meta Quest 2, 3, or Pro virtual reality headsets. Game programmers and 3D artists had to consider the limitations of mobile VR while implementing game mechanics and graphical elements. One key development aim for the NursED environment was to create an immersive multiplayer environment.
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The game includes some realistic elements, created by 3D modeling authentic tools such as operation instruments. The game underwent several reviews during development and was piloted multiple times with the target audience.
Teaching Content
NursED was produced at KAMK, where two nursing teachers were responsible for the professional content design of the game.
The design process involved the participation of nursing students from Kainuu Vocational College, who contributed ideas for challenges in the game and provided user insights into the game's difficulty level. Nursing students also piloted the game.
The goal of the game was to illustrate the diverse and engaging work of a nurse and emphasize the importance of teamwork. That's why cooperative play is essential.
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The game's graphic style is cartoonish to make the content easily approachable and clear. Very few words are in the game, and these have been replaced with escape-room-style symbols.
Download
NursED s a virtual reality game, and it is available for Meta Quest 2 or Meta Quest Pro virtual reality headsets.
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NursED is available through Meta App lab. You can either search it directly through Meta store or add the game to you account with the following link.
NursED on Meta Quest | Quest VR games | Meta Store
