Virtual patients training real people in simulated nursing program and last updated 2020-12-17 22:14:57-05 A simulation program to train nurses is gaining in popularity. Shadow Health is using virtual patients to train real people in hopes of quickly bringing those real students into the workforce. From pediatrics to maternal health, the future of nursing school is happening now. âThe technology is so good, youâll get an answer. You might not get the answer youâre looking for; youâll have to rephrase and thatâs the way it is in real life too,â said Lorrie Rilko, an assistant professor at George Washington Universityâs School of Nursing.