Rate My Professor Barbara Loessl

Barbara Loessl is a Lecturer in Biosciences in the School of Nursing at Murdoch University. As a registered nurse with over 12 years of university teaching experience, she specializes in bioscience and pathophysiology, teaching essential subjects such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and related sciences to undergraduate nursing students. Her approach emphasizes innovative pedagogy, particularly the use of online and virtual resources to make complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging for nursing education.

Loessl's research focuses on virtual reality (VR) simulations as tools for nurse training. She co-authored the 2023 publication 'My hands are running away – learning a complex nursing skill via virtual reality simulation: a randomised mixed methods study' in BMC Nursing, leading a collaboration with Furtwangen University and the University of Freiburg. The study evaluated three groups learning airway suctioning via different VR variants, instructional videos, or a combination. Findings revealed equivalent theoretical knowledge across methods, high student satisfaction and motivation with VR, but weaker practical skills in VR-only groups compared to video or hybrid approaches. Loessl noted that VR boosts knowledge, confidence, and engagement but should complement traditional skills lab training for tactile proficiency, especially for structured procedures. She also published 'Why do I have to know all this - I am not a doctor, just a nurse' in the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal, exploring the importance of scientific foundations in nursing. Active in Murdoch University's Digital Immersive Lab, Loessl has presented on VR applications in nursing bioscience at THETA 2025 and 3D Organon webinars. Previously a lecturer at Edith Cowan University, she is pursuing a PhD in Nursing Education there.