1994 Volume 4 Issue 1 Pages 35-50
A national curricula for nursing education was enacted throughout Japan in 1990.
The purpose of this study was to describe the processes and problems encountered by each nursing school in implementing the new curricula. The directors of the curriculum commitees of 827 nursing schools received a questionnaire by mail. Questions focused on the adoption of the national curriculum guidelines from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, changes in required lecture and clinical hours, and plans for the development of decision-making skills, knowledge application, and problem-solving skills.
There were 262 usable responses (32.3% response rate). The following results were demonstrated. 1) Most schools, except baccalaureate programs, followed the national curriculum guidelines when developng their own curriculum. 2) Compared to a former curricula, the number of lecture and clinical hours was decreased in many nursing schools, especially in diploma programs, as suggested. 3) Various efforts were being made to decrease school hours, yet there were different opinions on the use of students' free time. 4) Many schools were making efforts to further develop nursing student's abilities in the three areas of emphasis by using situational decision-making learning to unify student's knowledge. 5) The major problems in implementing the new curriculum were the teachers' problems, such as their lack of competency for change, problems related to curriculum contents and implementation, and problems unique to certain nursing programs.
