Abstract
Practical training through the community health nursing course at Oita University of Nursing and Health Sciences aims to enhance the perspective of students for caring for individuals, groups, and the community. Students are required to train at visiting nursing stations, health organizations in municipalities, and public health centers, in this order. Students who are taking the community health nursing course are assigned to practical training at the same time, in facilities located all over the prefecture. Students are assigned to training at facilities governed by one public-health center in small groups of 2-4 students, in order to increase efficacy of training over a short period of time. The nursing school collaborates with the Medical and Pharmaceutical Affairs Division of Oita prefecture and public health centers to obtain approval for practical training from the facilities. The school asks public health nurses to supervise the practical training in clinical settings. We also provide supervision for students through collaboration with all faculty members teaching nursing except for those teaching public health nursing. Overall evaluations of students after the end of practical training demonstrate significant improvements in their understanding of the function and role of each facility and the roles and attitudes of nursing personnel. The training is effective in promoting initiative in students. Further evaluation is needed for arrangements with facilities and the duration of practical training, uniformity of content in practical training, and new methods of practical training through consolidation of municipalities.
