The Utility of Island Fieldwork in Recurrent Education for Nurses−Focusig on “The Development of Nurses Who Support Life in the Community”−

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of fieldwork on smaller islands as part of recurrent education for nursing professionals. Recurrent education was implemented as part of a program subsidized by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture,Sports,Science and Technology with the goal of developing nursing professionals able to support living in the community to the end of life.

We conducted a qualitative analysis of the post-fieldwork learning reports written by 48 clinically experienced nurses who had completed the program.

As a result,program participants recognized “dignified living that shapes the individual” and “understanding and respect for a life unable to be measured by one’s own pre-existing knowledge and experience” by placing themselves in the unique island environment including “a prosperous life without disadvantages in health and welfare conditions” and “communities to coexist in an area created by its unique culture”, and they developed new schema such as “the importance of viewing the patient as an indivichal living in the community” and “the importance of cooperation and collaboration throughout the community to support the individual’s unique lifestyle”, which led them to “rethinking identity as a nursing professional”.

In other words, the results suggest that the smaller island fieldwork did have utility for relearning nursing with holistic perspective.