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Greetings from the Representative Director

At the Annual General Assembly held on July 4th, 2022, directors and auditors were approved, and the Representative Director was officially appointed at the Board of Directors meeting on the same day. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the member institutions for their cooperation in the Japan Association of Nursing Programs in Universities (JANPU), including their continued participation in our many surveys. Currently, there are 302 courses offered at 285 nursing universities in Japan, with an admission capacity of 26,000. For master's programs, there are 214 courses at 206 universities, with an admission capacity of 3,000; and for doctoral programs, there are 117 courses at 114 universities, with an admission capacity of 650.

JANPU’s objective is to contribute to the health and welfare of people by enhancing and developing nursing practice and raising the standard of academic research and study, through mutual cooperation and collaboration among nursing higher education institutions. Nursing universities that assent to this purpose become Association members, and elected or nominated officers form a Board of Directors to develop the medical business/services.

As set forth in our Articles of Incorporation, JANPU is to carry out the following activities: (1) conduct surveys and research on nursing education; (2) ensure and improve nursing education; (3) promote educational programs for advanced practice nurses; (4) propose policies on nursing education; (5) raise awareness of nursing science in society, (6) promote alliance and cooperation between nursing-related organizations and between Japanese and international organizations; and (7) other projects necessary to achieve the objective of this legal entity.

In Japan, the disease structure has changed due to the super-aging society, and the primary place of medical treatment has shifted to the home. Team medical care has been promoted, and the roles of medical professionals have been expanded. Nurses are also now required to take on a bigger role. JANPU will respond to changes in society, grasp the needs for nursing science, and develop its operations. Since the Board of Directors meeting in the fiscal year 2021, we have listed three high-priority projects and have set forth an annual plan to achieve these. For 2023, we have established the following priority plans:

2023 Focused Agenda
for Action

Focused Agenda 1. Envision the future of nursing education and build a concrete development path

  • (1) Consider ways to share information and collaborate among member institutions so as to contribute to the promotion of Digital Transformation of education at member institutions
  • (2) Promote the development of the Japan Association of Nursing Programs in Universities version (tentative name) of the pre-practice CBT (Computer Based Testing)/OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) system
  • (3) Promote the development of a nursing education program aimed at developing nursing personnel who are familiar with infectious diseases
  • (4) Collect information on the introduction of ICT for the national examination for public health nurses, midwives, and nurses

Focused Agenda 2. Envision the ideal way of advanced practical nursing and build a concrete development path

  • (1) Formulate APN Grand Design in collaboration with other institutions and undertake APN education system reform, including CNS and NP
  • (2) Actively work to establish a qualification system for JANPU nurse practitioners (tentative name) in collaboration with other institutions

Focused Agenda 3. Manage the organization to realize effective association activities and collaborate with nursing-related organizations

  • (1) While collaborating with Japanese Nursing Association and Japan Society of Private Colleges and Universities of Nursing, submit a request letter to Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
  • (2) Establish Articles of Incorporation, regulations, etc., and revise them as appropriate to contribute to more efficient, effective, fair, and transparent organizational management
  • (3) Develop the system and functions of JANPU Network in disaster

Focused Agenda 1. (2) has been handled by CBT Working Group of the Quality Improvement Committee for Nursing Education. It is now a stage to conduct surveys and research for review of Nursing Competence Evaluation Standards and the Working Group will be dissolved for the sake of launching “Review Committee for Nursing Competence Evaluation Standards” as an ad hoc committee mainly in charge of survey, with experts appointed anew.

With regard to Focused Agenda 2, three organizations, Japanese Nursing Association, Japanese Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties and JANPU, have jointly requested change of NP to a national certification based on approval of respective boards of directors. Now, we have specified the competency as a NP and are examining tasks that cannot be handled by the current laws and regulations. With regard to CNS, a decrease in the enrollment is pointed out and corrective measures are required. We will formulate APN Grand Design toward resolution of the above issues and undertake reform.

Yayoi Kamakura,
Representative Director,
Japan Association of Nursing Programs in Universities

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