Workplace Support at Nursing Schools for Teachers Wishing to Study at Graduate Schools：Results of a Questionnaire Survey

Abstract

〔Purpose〕The purpose of this study is to clarify what support systems currently exist at nursing schools for teachers wishing to enter graduate school programs while continuing to work.

〔Method〕We mailed a self-administered questionnaire to persons in managerial positions at 475 nursing schools across Japan that provide a three-year program and analyzed the results of the questionnaires received from 210 nursing schools （response rate of 44.2%）.

〔Results〕With regard to workplace support systems now available for teachers who wish to study at graduate schools, 22.9% of the responding schools have a study leave system, 7.6% have a system under which teachers can work shorter hours as regular employees while studying, and 5.7% have a financial support system. Approximately 80% of the nursing schools have no plans to introduce any additional systems over and above what they already have in place. Of the responding persons in managerial positions, 80.2% regard it as necessary for teachers to study at graduate schools and support teachers by adjusting working hours, rearranging roles or duties, and creating a cooperative work environment.

〔Discussion〕The results suggest that in order to develop systems that encourage teachers at nursing schools to enter graduate school programs while continuing to work, there are four issues to be addressed: （1） creation of work environments where teachers can apply what they have learned at graduate schools, （2） provision of government financial assistance to establish support systems, （3） an increase in the number of teachers and development of flexible employment systems, and （4） revision of qualification requirements for teachers.