Midwifery Education

Basic Midwifery Education

[ Midwifery Education System ]

Midwifery education in Japan, illustrated in Fig. 1, can be pursued either through midwifery education after graduating from nursing school or junior college, or through midwifery programs offered by four-year colleges/universities.

Midwifery education is also available at the one-year specialty courses offered to those who have finished the four-year courses at the colleges/universities, as well as at the graduate schools and the professional graduate school.

All midwifery program graduates must pass the national midwifery examination in order to obtain a license as a midwife.

In line with a shift seen in nursing education toward four-year colleges/universities, midwifery education now tends to be offered more often in four-year colleges/universities. Although small in number, graduate programs for midwifery are given.

[ Midwifery Educational Pathways ] (PDF 23KB)

[ Number of Midwifery Schools / Programs ]

There has recently been a slight increase in the number of midwifery schools. However, the number of applicants passing the national midwifery licensing examination has stopped increasing. This reflects the fact that the number of available slots in midwifery programs at four-year colleges/universities is small.

[ Number Passing the National Midwifery Examination ]

Year	Number of Programs			Total	Number of graduates	Number passing the national exam.
	Colleges	Junior Colleges	Midwifery Schools
1990				80	1,701	1,498
1992				80	1,692	1,497
1994				78	1,565	1,573
1996	21	31	31	101	1,563	1,580
1998	34	35	47	116	1,574	1,463
2000	46	35	43	124	1,467	1,697
2002	62	31	35	128	-	1,513
2003	70	29	33	132	-	1,531

Source

Statistical Data on Nursing Services in Japan, 2003

[ Midwifery Curriculum ]

In line with the 1997 revision of regulations controlling midwifery education, the current curriculum consists of the following subjects. Exact curriculum details for the educational programs may be set at the discretion of each school, depending upon the school's educational aims.

[ Midwifery Course Content ]

Subjects	Credits	Contents
Fundamentals of midwifery	6	The focus is on women's reproductive health: Basic midwifery, including an introduction to midwifery, bioethics, forms and functions of reproduction, psychology and sociology of reproductive health, and growth and development of infants.
Midwifery diagnostics and techniques	6	Basic midwifery techniques Techniques required of midwives, especially those necessary for psychological care
Maternal and child health in the community	1	B asic knowledge needed to promote maternal and child health in the community
Midwifery management	1	Midwifery management, midwifery care, basic knowledge needed to manage a maternity home
Clinical training in midwifery at various settings including maternity homes	8	Integrated clinical training in midwifery diagnostics and techniques, maternal and child health in the community and midwifery management Each student should have clinical experience of at least 10 birth deliveries.
Total	22

Advanced Education

[ Certified Nurse Specialist ] (CNS)

The nursing has undergone a major transition toward specialization since the 1990s; the certified nurse specialist (CNS) certification was created by the JNA in 1994, with the aim of increasing the quality of nursing and responding the diverse health needs of the people. To date, 11 nursing areas, including "maternity nursing", have been certified as CNS curricula. Japanese Nursing Association (JNA) takes responsibility in the certification of both the individual CNS's and the specialty areas.

CNS's are certified as nursing professionals with "distinguished nursing ability" in a specific nursing area and provide such services as coordination of the healthcare services, consultation, education, research and intervention in the ethical problems. The advanced education for these highly specialized professionals is available at the graduate level. The Japanese Association for Nursing Programs in University (JANPU) administers the task of assuring and improving the quality of the program, through certification and the creation of standards for the educational curricula.

JANPU CNS Educational Goals for the "Maternity Nursing"

1. Development of the ability to diagnose reproductive health-related problems and to plan, provide, and evaluate the care appropriate to these problems, as well as to independently provide care for normal client populations
2. Development of the ability to handle emergency situations and to provide emergency care
3. Development of the ability to promote research in the areas of maternity nursing and midwifery and to apply the research findings in daily practice
4. Development of the ability to provide management leadership and to play the role of a coordinator in healthcare teams, and to participate in policy-making
5. Development of the ability to make judgments on reproductive health-related ethical issues and to provide advice and support
6. Development of the ability to provide basic nursing education in this field, and to provide the necessary advice and education to nurses involved in maternity nursing and other nursing fields and to related professionals

[ Curriculum Content ]

Subjects		Credits
Core Subjects	Nursing Education Theory	2
	Nursing Management Theory	2
	Nursing Theory	2
	Nursing Research	2
	Consultation Theory	2
	Nursing Ethics	2
	Nursing Policy	2
Major Core Subjects Understanding Clients Support for Mother and Child in the Perinatal Period General Support for Women throughout Their Lifespan		6
Major Special Subjects (each student will select one of the following three subject areas) Assistance for Mother and Child in the Perinatal Period Women's Health Care Support for Mother and Child in the Community		6
Advanced Practice Training		6

Note

Due to the highly specialized subject matter, "Assistance for Mother and Child in the Perinatal Period" and "Assistance for Mother and Child in the Community" in "Major Special Subjects" above are limited to students who are licensed midwives.

[ Certified Expert Nurse ]

Certified Expert Nurses (CEN's) are nursing professionals who are able to provide an advanced level of nursing practice in certain specialized nursing areas, utilizing their expertise and knowledge.

CEN's contribute to the advancement of nursing and midwifery by assuming the roles of practitioner, instructor, and consultant. Certificates are awarded to nursing professionals licensed as public health nurses, midwives, or nurses with at least 5 years of experience in service, who have completed the 6-month and 600-hour (minimum) CEN curriculum and passed the certification process. CEN certification must be renewed every 5 years.

"Infertility nursing" and "neonatal intensive care nursing" have been specified as areas in which midwives are commonly involved, and courses have been started.

Continuing Education

The JNA offers the following continuing education programs specifically intended for midwives. Similar educational programs are also offered by the prefectural nursing associations and other organizations.