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Japan's nursing history
After many years of National Seclusion, Japan established a licensing system for modern nursing professionals for the first time in 1899 with the introduction of the "Midwives Ordinance". The ensuing promulgation of "Registered Nurses Ordinance" in 1915 gave legal substantiation to the qualification of registered nurse.
Following the end of World War II, under the control of GHQ (General Headquar ters of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers), Japan adopted the Public Health Nurse, Midwife and Nurse Law (1948) as a new law concerning nursing professionals. It defines its objectives as "improving the quality of public health nurses, midwives and registered nurses, and proliferating / enhancing medical care and public sanitation".
Today, professional nursing qualifications, officially recognized in Japan, are "Public Health Nurse", "Midwife", "Registered Nurse" and "Assistant Nurse". The above Law defines the terms and scope of duties for each qualification (Article 2-5).
The nursing system was reorganized under the guidance of GHQ. However, subsequent changes in the medical provision system and the increase in the number of hospitals have in subsequent decades accelerated nurse shortages and highlighted problems in their working conditions. In response, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has taken on the tasks of improving the nursing system, and enhancing nursing education through establishing university courses on nursing.
With the arrival of the 21st century, there is a deepening awareness in life, health and quality of living, prompting improvement in the quality and content of nursing services.
The 16th ICN Congress in Tokyo
| Chronology | |
|---|---|
| 1876 | Meiji Restoration |
| 1876 | The Japanese term "Kangofu (=nurse)" is used for the first time. |
| 1885 | The first nurse-training institute is established. |
| 1899 | Enactment of the Midwifes Ordinance |
| 1900 | First registered nurse examination (Tokyo only, subsequently expanded nationwide) |
| 1915 | Enactment of the Registered Nurses Ordinance |
| 1929 | The Association of Nurses is established. |
| 1933 | The 7th ICN Congress approves membership of Japan's Imperial Nurses Association. |
| 1941 | Enactment of the Public Health Nurse Ordinance |
| 1945 | WWII ends. Japan is placed under GHQ control. |
| 1946 | A new nurse education system is launched under GHQ guidance. The Japanese Association of Midwives, Registered Nurses and Public Health Nurses is established today's JNA). |
| 1948 | Enactment of the Public Health Nurse, Midwife and Nurse Law The law changes the status of these nursing professions into formal licensed qualifications granted upon passing examinations. |
| 1949 | Enactment of the ordinance for designating training schools for public health nurses, midwives and registered nurses |
| 1951 | Introduction of the assistant nurse system |
| 1952 | Introduction of the first four-year university course on nursing |
| 1955 | JNA joins ICM. |
| 1957 | Introduction of a two-year nursing education course (for assistant nurses preparing for the government examination for registered nurse qualification) |
| 1959 | The Japan Nursing Federation is established as a political lobbying organization. |
| 1965 | A court ruling on the regulation regarding night shifts of nurses (up to 8 days a month, ban on single-person night shift) |
| 1967 | Establishment of the Japan Nursing Society |
| 1976 | A campaign to abolish the development of assistant nurses |
| 1977 | The 16th ICN Congress is held in Tokyo. |
| 1987 | The Health and Welfare Ministry reports the need to establish training institutes for nursing education, organize forums / training sessions, step up the standard of nursing education and create more undergraduate / postgraduate courses on nursing. |
| 1990 | May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, is officially declared the Nursing Day. |
| 1992 | A prefectural nursing association opens the first visiting nurse station. Enactment of the law for securing nurse workforce and other human resources JNA launches a Nurse Center project. |
| 1994 | The first male public health nurse receives an official license. |
| 1995 | Great Hanshin & Awaji Earthquakes Initiatives for disaster nursing gather momentum. |
| 1996 | The first group of Certified Nurse Specialists receives certification. |
| 1997 | The first group of Certified Experts Nurses receives certification. |
| 2007 | ICN Conference is held in Yokohama. |
Nursing system
[ Definition of Public Heath Nurses ] (Article 2)
In this Law, "Public Health Nurses" mean persons who use the title with a license from the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, and engage in providing public health guidance.
[ Definition of Midwives ] (Article 3)
In this Law, "Midwives" mean women who hold a license from the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, and engage in assisting in childbirth or providing antenatal, postnatal and neonatal care.
[ Definition of Registered Nurses ] (Article 4)
In this Law, "Registered Nurses" mean persons who hold a license from the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, and engage in providing nursing care to or assisting in the medical treatment of persons with injuries and / or illnesses or postnatal women.
[ Definition of Assistant Nurses ] (Article 5)
In this Law, "Assistant Nurses" mean persons who hold a license from prefectural governors, and engage in operations defined in the previous Article under instructions from medical doctors, dentists or registered nurses.
To work as a "public health nurse", "midwife" or "registered nurse" in Japan, one must study at an educational institution that provides curriculums for the applicable qualifications as stipulated by law, complete the applicable curriculum, pass the annual government examination, and obtain a license from the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare. The duration of the curriculums is three years for registered nurses and at least 6 months (normally one year) for both public health nurses and midwives.
There is no system of mutual qualification recognition for persons who hold an overseas Registered Nurse license. All persons who wish to work as registered nurses in Japan must pass the standard government examination, which is conducted in Japanese only.
"Licenced practical Nurse" is a prefectural, not a national qualification, but allows its license holders to work as such not only in the prefecture that the license is issued but also in any other prefectures across the nation. The curriculum for licenced practical nurses takes two years to complete. They require instructions from medical doctors, dentists or registered nurses to perform nursing duties.
| Education content | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation studies |
|
13 |
| Specialized basic studies |
|
15 |
|
6 | |
| Specialized studies |
|
10 |
|
4 | |
|
6 | |
|
4 | |
|
4 | |
|
4 | |
|
4 | |
|
23 | |
| Total | 93 | |
| Education content | Units |
|---|---|
|
12 |
|
4 |
|
2 |
|
3 |
| Total | 21 |
| Education content | Units |
|---|---|
|
6 |
|
6 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
8 |
| Total | 22 |