The Future of Wound Care Training - Virtual Reality in Medical Education

In this episode of Wound Care Insights, Professor Karen Ousey talks to Astrid Probst, an innovative nursing educator and wound care leader from Germany who has been at the forefront of integrating virtual reality into healthcare education. Astrid explains how VR has been successfully adopted in nursing schools and hospitals to support students, qualified nursing staff, medical professionals, patients, and caregivers.

She shares how immersive VR environments help build confidence and competence before learners and clinicians work with real patients, particularly in wound assessment, dressing changes, and understanding anatomy. Beyond professional education, Astrid highlights the potential of VR to support patient and caregiver education, enabling them to better understand wound management, treatment steps, and the importance of adherence to therapies such as compression.

The conversation explores the balance between virtual reality, traditional skills labs, and real-world practice, as well as the growing role of artificial intelligence in personalising learning and overcoming language barriers. Astrid also discusses the importance of interdisciplinary and international collaboration to develop realistic wound care scenarios and future-proof education in the face of workforce shortages and increasing care complexity. A thought-provoking discussion for clinicians, educators, and healthcare leaders looking to enhance learning, confidence, and outcomes across the entire care pathway.