The Virtual Patient, an interactive multimedia learning resource using a critical care clinical scenario for postgraduate nursing students, was developed to enhance flexible access to learning experiences and improve learning outcomes in the management of critically ill patients. Using real-time physiological animations, authentic content design and local online clinical experts, The Virtual Patient replicates the way in which clinical cues and patient data are presented in the critical care environment, allowing students to work in their own time, at their own pace, with expert support and without ever compromising real patients. This article reports the project's development, design features, and user-evaluation data, concluding with design recommendations. (Contains 1 table and 3 figures.)