Grande Ronde Hospital, a 25-bed critical access rural hospital serving Union County and Eastern Oregon, launched UbiSim virtual reality simulation in June 2025 to strengthen nursing education, nurse residency and ongoing professional development despite rural constraints in space, budget and staffing. Since implementation, five unique nursing users completed more than 58 virtual reality simulation sessions focused on high-risk scenarios including diabetic ketoacidosis management, postoperative pain and obstetric preeclampsia. The initiative originated from a nurse resident evidence-based project that compared simulation technologies and selected UbiSim for realism, cost-effectiveness and adaptability. To expand access for hard-to-reach teams, the hospital introduced “Carp Noctum,” a mobile simulation approach delivering virtual reality education directly to night shift staff to reduce scheduling and staffing barriers. The program uses metrics and staff feedback to support budgeting decisions and guide return-on-investment justification, with plans to broaden scenario offerings and data analytics. The hospital earned a 2024 “Performance Leadership Award for Excellence in Outcomes” from the Chartis Center for Rural Health and was named one of the top 100 critical access hospitals in the nation in 2025.
