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Nine in ten rookie nurses freeze during their first real code—no matter how many textbooks they’ve aced. What if they could practice the chaos in a headset first? In this episode, Dr. Norma Jones talks with Dr. Jenna Zeller, Assistant Director of Cabrillo College’s nursing program, about a layered VR workflow that lets students “fail safe,” page a cranky on-call physician, and still make it to lab with a smile. Zeller reveals how she bought Oculus headsets before she even had a lesson plan and why adding a simple “switch!” command keeps every observer on their toes. The payoff: sharper clinical judgment, lower anxiety, and a bump in lab attendance.
Take-aways
• Repeatable stack: skill demo → VR scenario → high-fidelity mannequin → rapid debrief
• “Switch!” cue that turns passive onlookers into active problem-solvers
• VR role-plays that build courage to page doctors early—cutting failure-to-rescue risks
• AI prompts that turn terse clinical notes into polished feedback emails in seconds
Profile: Dr. Jenna Zeller
Jenna Zeller is the Assistant Director of Nursing at Cabrillo College. She has worked as an RN for 16 years and in nursing education for 10 years. Jenna holds a BSN from Johns Hopkins University, an MSN from the University of Maryland, and a DNP from Regis College. Since joining Cabrillo College in 2020, Jenna has focused on integrating immersive technology, like virtual reality simulation, into nursing education. Her teaching emphasizes active and equitable learning, aiming to build confidence and competence in students. Jenna is committed to enhancing learning experiences and advancing nursing education through innovation and collaboration.