Purpose: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual simulation practice has been increasingly activated as an alternative to clinical practice in nursing colleges. This study aimed to provide basic data by confirming changes in self-efficacy and nursing knowledge in the virtual simulations of nursing students, and identifying virtual presence, virtual patient learning system evaluation (VPLSE), and practical satisfaction. Methods: This was a single-group pre-post quasi-experimental study. The subjects were 28 third-grade nursing students. Results: Self-efficacy and nursing knowledge increased significantly (p<.001). Virtual presence had a significant positive correlation with VPLSE) (p=.002) and practice satisfaction (p=.011). There was also a significant positive correlation between virtual simulation learning evaluation and practice satisfaction (p<.001). Conclusion: Based on these results, virtual simulation practice can be used with clinical practice as an educational method to improve nursing students' self-efficacy and nursing knowledge in nursing education. Virtual presence was confirmed as a significant variable to improve practice satisfaction and VPLSE. It is necessary to develop a virtual simulation program that can improve virtual presence through collaboration with virtual reality technology experts.

ABSTRACT
Ⅰ. Introduction
    1. Background
    2. Purpose
Ⅱ. Methods
    1. Research design
    2. Participants
    3. Instruments
    4. Data collection
    5. Data analysis
    6. Ethical consideration
Ⅲ. Results
    1. General and Virtual simulation practicerelatedcharacteristics
    2. Self-efficacy and nursing knowledge
    3. Correlation among virtual presence, VPLSEand practice satisfaction
Ⅳ. Discussion
Ⅴ. Conclusion andRecommendation
References

• Choi So-Eun(Professor, Department of Nursing, Mokpo National University) Corresponding author
• Lee Jiyeong(Assistant professor, Department of Nursing, Mokpo Catholic University)
• Kim Min-A(Assistant professor, Department of Nursing, Mokpo Catholic University)