The training program to enhance practical nursing capabilities for future international relief personnel and future issues

Abstract

Humanitarian crises are on the rise in abroad, and the opportunities for international relief are increasing. Nurses involved in international medical relief are expected to have the knowledge and skills to treat a wide range of target populations and a variety of illnesses and injuries. Therefore, Japanese Red Cross Aichi Medical Center Nagoya Daini Hospital has implemented a training program to strengthen the practical nursing capabilities required for international relief work. The program combines On-the-Job Training (OJT), in which participants rotate through a selected clinical department based on their background and training goals, with Off-the-Job Training in the International Medical Relief Department. The OJT content covers 19 of the 27 medical services listed in the Classification and Minimum Standard for Emergency Medical Teams. Twenty-three participants who have completed the training have been deployed a total of 58 times for in disaster relief, humanitarian assistance in conflict areas and long-term development cooperation projects, and three have also worked in management positions. The training is organized as a self-development program for nurses working internationally, in medical facilities rather than educational institutions. To make the program more effective, Infection Control, Community Engagement and Accountability, and Protection, Gender and Inclusion are required to be included by international standards.