Our proposal advocates for the dynamization of a consortium among the three universities that offer nursing programs. Consequently, it constitutes a project aimed at initiating this collaboration and harnessing future, more profound interactions at all levels—teaching, research, innovation, and societal engagement. This initiative aims to enhance the quality of teaching and research outcomes in the field of nursing.
The genesis of our initiative lies in the conclusion of a European project (KA+) SG4NS, coordinated by the School of Nursing at the University of Minho, in collaboration with five other partners, including four European universities (http://sg4ns.ese.uminho.pt). This endeavor resulted in the development of a serious game (SG) prototype that utilizes virtual reality (VR) techniques to facilitate the enhancement of emotional competencies in nursing students. The integration of the game into an immersive VR environment, as a supplement to the emotional competence training program, fosters the acquisition of these essential skills.
Training in a real context of care requires a prior preparation, with a high degree of fidelity through a simulated practice that allows the initial development of professional skills structuring for the professional exercise. In a digital era, it is fundamental to bring new approaches to this process and a part of them is emerging in the field of simulated practice and specifically on the format of serious games. Simultaneously, students today are more digitally open and gifted but at the same time have more difficulties in managing their emotions.
The innovative format of the project arises from the training and capacity building of professors from partner universities by experts from the University of Minho. The volunteer teaching staff of each institution will participate in this training, enabling them to instruct their students at this level using the same strategy proposed in the European project.