Snow Li

Objectives:
This scoping review aims to examine the current literature on using extended reality (XR) technologies to teach communication skills in nursing education.

Design:
This scoping review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) method.

Data sources:
Searches were conducted in five electronic databases: CINAHL Ultimate, Cochrane Library, ERIC, PsycINFO, and PubMed, in February 2024.

Review methods:
The research procedure was assessed using the PRISMA-ScR checklist.

Results:
The analysis generated four overarching categories that described key characteristics of the integration of XR technologies: program overview, pedagogical approaches, evaluation, and nursing students’ experiences.

Conclusion:
This review underscored the effectiveness of XR technologies, particularly VR, as the predominant tool for enhancing communication skills in nursing education. It identifies gaps in the diversity of communication scenarios covered and recommends expending future research to include diverse clinical settings and scenarios. Furthermore, this review highlights a paucity of research utilizing mixed reality (MR) technology for communication training. The insights gained from this review are instrumental in directing further research into MR-based simulations for communication skills training across various nursing contexts.