Journal des soins infirmiers et des soins

Advanced Practice Nurses in Japan: Education and Related Issues

Abstract

Akiko Kondo

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) have proven their abilities and have been authorized to practice in many developed countries. NPs play some independent roles that previously were the roles of physicians. However, NPs have not been introduced in Japan. The main reason is that there is not enough evidence that nurses can practice independently from physicians to change the Medical Practitioners Act. The Japanese version of an NP, which is similar to a Physician Assistant, is under consideration for introduction in Japan. The Japanese version of NPs would be able to conduct specific medical treatments with a “comprehensive order” from a physician. Certified Nurse Specialists (CNSs) and

Certified Nurses (CNs) are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses in Japan. The outcome evaluations of the performance of CNSs have been limited to the descriptive data of case reports. Studies that provide a high level of evidence and evaluate the work and skills of CNSs are necessary so that their abilities can be appreciated. One of the roles of CNSs is research. However, their education emphasizes clinical practice and the time allotted to research in the curriculum is limited. Nursing faculty members at universities are usually very busy providing education and do not have sufficient time to perform research.

To obtain evidence that nurses can work independently, the educational system must allow nursing faculty members at universities to have more time for research and provide the education that would allow CNSs to collaborate with faculty members who perform research. Unfortunately, the fact that there is not enough evidence of nursing ability and this is the key reason of preventing introduction of NPs in Japan is not well known to nurses. It is necessary to tell and educate nurses the necessity of research and to encourage them doing it.