Virtual Reality to Connect West40 Area Students to Possible Careers

Imagine being a teenager interested in pursuing a career in the health field and experiencing what it’s like to work as a nurse without ever leaving the classroom.

West40 student interns and staff members are making this a reality by using virtual reality technology as a learning tool to support middle and high school students across West Cook County.

In partnership with Rush University, West40 staff and student interns recently produced a virtual reality video that allows viewers to experience interactions between nurses and patients in a real-world setting. 

The immersive video, “Step into Scrubs”, will soon be shared with middle and high school students as part of West40’s employability program. According to Kathleen O’Hara, West40’s Partnerships & Engagement lead, the project checks multiple boxes. 

“Shadowing was once the standard way of seeing the reality of a job, but it’s not as common these days,” O’Hara said. “The VR experience allows students to walk in a nurse’s shoes, find out what the work really feels like, and decide if it’s something they want to pursue — or not.” 

Just as important, when West40 student interns work on these projects, they can build employability skills like attendance, attention to detail, teamwork, critical thinking, and resiliency, while also getting a taste of higher education environments.

“I love seeing our students just step in and share their voice with the video production team. Seeing their confidence blossom is the best,” O’Hara said.

Recent Rush nursing graduates Omotolani Idriss and Kamea Scott worked with the West40 staff and interns to bring the VR experience to life and they used the finished video as part of their Capstone project required for graduation. 

“We chose this particular topic because minority groups are underrepresented in nursing and this leads to negative impacts on cultural competency and trust in the profession as a whole,” Scott said. “And so incorporating VR with the 12th grade students helps us support self efficacy while providing an immersive real world experience in getting them more interested in potential career avenues in nursing.”

Idriss said she was especially drawn to the scriptwriting phase of the project. She also stepped in front of the camera.

“I ended up being an actor so that was a lot for me but I really enjoyed it,” Idriss said.

West40 plans to bring the VR videos and goggles directly to area middle and high schools, giving students a hands-on look at the healthcare field. Contact Kathleen O’Hara at kohara@west40.org if you are interested in bringing West40’s “Step into Scrubs” virtual reality experience to your students.