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Course options for obtaining qualifications
There are several courses to be qualified as a registered nurse in Japan. The basic route would be to complete senior high school and study at a nursing university (4-year bachelor degree course), junior nursing college (3-year course) or nursing school (3-year course) before taking the national examination.
A student who graduates from a nursing university is entitled to take the national examination for registered nurse, public health nurse or midwife (available only at the university which offers midwifery coureses). Nursing universities also offer a wide range of general education courses to allow broad areas of study. They facilitate a systematic study of nursing, and help students develop a critical thinking approach and capacity to make educated judgments.
Graduating from a junior college or nursing school entitles a student to take the national examination for registered nurse. Compared to universities, junior colleges place more emphasis on developing practically applicable skills.
To become a public health nurse or midwife, students must graduate from a nursing university (4-year course), or complete a public health nurse / midwife training course (1-year) after obtaining the license of registered nurse, so as to become eligible to take the respective national examinations.
College of Nursing Art and Science, University of Hyogo
[ Course options for obtaining qualifications ]
Development of university nursing education
The first nursing university was established in 1952. Since then, a growing rate of students seeking higher education has been combined with social changes such as a dwindling childbearing rate, leading to the increase in the number of students who wish to study nursing at universities. With some nursing courses upgrading from associate degree to bachelor's degree, the number of universities offering nursing courses reached 146 in April 2006, meaning all of the nation's 47 prefectures now have at least one nursing university. Postgraduate nursing courses are currently provided at 87 universities, 37 of which also offer doctorate courses(*1).
*1:Number of universities offering nursing courses and doctorate courses
[ Transition in the number of 4-year nursing universities ]
Introducing mandatory clinical training after graduation
Calls for an efficient medical care system that can reduce the dramatic increases in medical expenses in the graying society, have led to shortened hospital stays and severer medical conditions among patients. The current nursing staffing in Japan creates difficulties in providing safe medical and nursing care from the perspectives of nurse fatigues and risk management.
Although new graduates are included in available nursing workforce, basic nurse education only at educational / training institutes does not develop sufficient practical skills, highlighting the need for "On the Job Training". In addition, nursing knowledge and skills which graduates are expected to obtain include aspects of medical treatments that cannot be implemented without formal qualifications. Therefore, expected nursing knowledge and skills for graduates are restricted from practical training for nursing students.
As of May 2005, JNA is actively lobbying for the government to legislate mandatory clinical trainings after graduation of public health nurses, midwives and registered nurses, instead of relying on voluntary training offered at individual hospitals, in order to ensure safety and secure nursing care for all patients.
