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Nursing is often thought of as a synonym for nurses, but there are actually four types of nurses, assistant nurses, midwives, and public health nurses, each with different roles. We will explain the work content of the nursing profession, the place of activity, and the process of obtaining qualifications.

There are four types of nursing professions, nurses, assistant nurses, midwives, and public health nurses, as stipulated by the Public Health Nurses, Midwives and Nurses Act. All of them are jobs that support people's health by making full use of specialized knowledge and skills.

A nurse's main job is to care for patients and assist in medical treatment as a member of the medical team. In addition to medical care for patients who are hospitalized due to injury or illness, they also play an important role in providing emotional support for patients and their families, as well as lifestyle guidance for outpatients. As for places of employment, 69% are hospitals, 15% clinics, 4.3% home-visit nursing stations, 2.1% long-term care insurance facilities, 2.0% long-term care welfare facilities, and 1.5% social welfare facilities (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, 2019 Health Policy Bureau Nursing Division). In addition, there are cases of working at public health centers, midwives, schools, and general companies.

In order to become a nurse, it is necessary to receive a university education or at least three years of education and pass the national nursing examination. Specifically, after graduating from high school, students enter nursing college (4 years), nursing junior college (3 years), nurse training school (3 years), or after graduating from junior high school, enter a 5-year integrated nurse training course. There are courses. After obtaining a nursing qualification, it is possible to take on the challenge of obtaining a professional qualification in nursing by accumulating experience.

Assistant nurses provide medical and psychological care to patients in the same way as nurses, but they work under the direction of doctors and nurses. Nursing work cannot be performed based on one's own judgment. As for places of employment, 36% are hospitals, 35% are clinics, 7.2% are long-term care health facilities, 5.7% are long-term care welfare facilities, and 3.2% are social welfare facilities. .

In order to become an associate nurse, high school graduates must complete a two-year curriculum at an associate nurse training center, junior high school graduates must spend two years at an associate nurse training center, or three years at a high school health nursing course. It is necessary to complete the curriculum and pass the prefectural governor examination. There are full-time and half-time commuting styles, and you can choose according to your lifestyle, and you can acquire qualifications while working. It is suitable for those who want to get a nursing job as soon as possible because the cost to obtain the qualification is less because the period to obtain qualification is shorter than that of a nurse. In order for an assistant nurse to acquire a nursing qualification, they must go to a nursing school training center, complete a two-year course for full-time courses, or three years for part-time courses, and pass the national examination. After more than 7 years of practical experience, there is a way to complete a 2-year correspondence course at a nursing school training center and pass the national examination.

Midwives are responsible for assisting in childbirth and providing health guidance to expectant and nursing mothers and infants. We provide consultation on infertility treatment, physical condition management for pregnant women, newborn care and parenting guidance. Some local governments are also conducting health observations for pregnant women with new coronavirus infections who are recuperating at home. In recent years, with the declining birthrate and aging population, there are more opportunities to give advice on childbirth at an old age and infertility treatment. Approximately 60% of midwives work in hospitals and 30% in clinics, as well as midwifery centers, prefectures, municipalities, and public health centers. It will also be possible to open a midwifery center.

In order to become a midwife, it is necessary to obtain a nursing qualification, receive at least one year of education, and pass the national midwifery examination. The shortest route to obtaining the qualification is to complete both the nursing course and the midwifery course at a nursing college (4-year system) and pass the respective national examinations. The second route is to take a national examination after completing a midwifery course at a junior college/vocational school (1 year) or a graduate school (2 years) after obtaining a nurse qualification.

Public health nurses provide health consultations and guidance for disease prevention and health management for local residents, as well as health checkups for infants and health management for expectant and nursing mothers. In addition, they visit home care recipients, such as the elderly, and provide lifestyle guidance. In addition, depending on where you work, you may provide health consultations and mental support for private company employees, school students and teachers, and hospital staff. Public health nurses work at public health centers, public health centers, administrative facilities such as municipal offices, schools (health rooms), private companies, and hospitals.

In order to become a public health nurse, it is necessary to obtain a nursing qualification, receive at least one year of education, and pass the national examination for public health nurses. Specifically, after graduating from high school, students attend nursing college, and after graduating, they are eligible to take the exams for nurses and public health nurses. Alternatively, after obtaining a nursing qualification, you can either attend a public health nurse training school (1 year) or transfer to a 4-year university with a public health nurse course in your third year (2 years) to qualify for the public health nurse examination. .