OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the conditions and challenges related to the implementation of simulation-based education for regional nurses in university hospitals. METHOD: A questionnaire was administered to deputy directors and high-ranking officials in charge of the education of the nursing staff in 132 university hospitals in Japan. RESULTS: Of the 62 facilities responding, only 16 provided simulation-based education for regional nurses. Respondents recognized that economic factors inhibited the implementation of simulation-based education, and understood the necessity to build a system of collaboration with communities in the region. Factors related to the implementation of simulation-based education included the number of hospital beds, and the lack of understanding of simulation education at their institutions. Challenges included “human resources,” “collaboration systems,” “ideas about simulation-based education,” “understanding of needs,” “material resources” and “economic resources.” CONCLUSION: Not enough university hospitals are implementing simulation-based education for regional nurses. To remedy this situation, university hospitals need to enhance their human, material, and economic resources, and establish a collaborative system with local communities.

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The purpose of this study was to identify the support provided to older people living alone who have alcohol-related problems by nurses working at Community general support centers and the difficulties that nurses face in this process. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among nurses working at Community general support centers using an open-ended, self-administered questionnaire. Responses from 209 nurses were collected and content analysis was performed. Ten categories of support were generated, including “Strategies to reduce alcohol consumption,” and 11 categories of difficulties in support, including “Refusal to accept treatment and support”. The results showed that older people living alone had alcohol-related problems, such as interruption of the use of care services due to alcohol consumption, and that these problems are more likely to become latent due to the fact that they live alone. In conclusion, a harm reduction approach and support during isolation are considered to be crucial for such older people living alone. Alternatively, it is necessary to establish a system that facilitates cooperation among supporters of the older with mental illnesses and specialized institutions for alcohol-related problems.

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The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of comfortable brassieres for lactating women with breast engorgement and their effect on breast swelling based on the drawn distance, the pulled-up distance of the breast, and the feeling of the worn brassieres. Four women with breast engorgement on the third day after delivery wore a wired brassiere (brassiere P or Q) and two non-wired brassieres (brassieres R and S). After each brassiere was worn, the drawing distance and pulling-up distance of the breast were measured, and a questionnaire on the worn feeling was administered, with responses graded on a five-point scale. The women felt that the more their breasts were lifted with brassiere R (r=0.861, p<0.01), the less breast tightness they felt. Brassiere R was non-wired, had good elasticity and breathability, and a wide shoulder strap that alleviated shoulder strain. Lactating women with breast engorgement preferred it because it supported the breast without compressing it. It is important for midwives to understand the characteristics and breast conditions of different brassieres, and support the selection of a proper brassiere, which is an important care product for lactating women.

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This paper examines the factors that affect the access and use of medical and health information by foreign residents in Japan. Thirty-three articles from the entire period of searchable articles in the Igaku-Chuo Zasshi, CINAHL and PubMed were selected for the study. Foreign residents experienced language barriers and lack of adequate information in a culture different from their own. It was found that social support was mainly provided by relatives and the native language community, and that information sources were limited. The results of this study indicate the importance of providing sufficient information in the native language, respect for the native culture, promotion of understanding of different healthcare systems, and community-based social support in order for foreign residents to obtain information and make their own judgments and decisions. However, the factors that influence their access to and use of information differ among foreign residents depending on their nationality and individual living environment.

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The purpose of this study was to clarify the factors influencing psychiatric nurses' attitudes toward utilizing research findings. A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire survey was administered to nurses working in psychiatric institutions throughout Japan. The questionnaire was distributed to 4,774 psychiatric nurses from 82 cooperating facilities, resulting in a total of 2,999 participants for analysis. The results of a stepwise method of multiple regression analysis suggested that regardless of job position or educational background, nurses may be positively affected by frequently reviewing relevant literature, having superior psychiatric nursing practice skills, having experience writing and submitting relevant articles, and negatively affected by having long years of psychiatric experience. The results also suggest that the absence of a coercive organizational climate and the development of rational organizational management based on the autonomy of nurses are environmental conditions that enhance attitudes towards the use of research findings. We believe that an organization's support for familiarity with literature and research and the creation of a free and open atmosphere will motivate nurses to improve their practical skills and inspire an improved attitude related to the use of research findings.

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【Purpose】This study aimed to obtain medical suggestions by clarifying the patients' holistic distress in the struggle against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 【Method】Using the search function of Rakuten Books, we entered the keywords "amyotrophic lateral sclerosis" or "ALS." Then, we used these to search manually for titles from the past three years. Ultimately, three publications were extracted. Next, we organized the contents related to holistic distress in three ALS cases and analyzed these for their common characteristics. 【Results】Six categories of physical, seven categories of mental, two categories of social, and three categories of spiritual pain were extracted as comprising holistic distress. 【Conclusion】This study's results suggest several strategies should be used to reduce ALS patients' overall level of distress. First, the accumulated knowledge drawn from the medical staff's careful involvement in preventing and alleviating physical pain and relieving mental discomfort should be applied using comprehensive medical intervention via multidisciplinary collaboration. Moreover, creating an environment where patients can maintain social relationships to the greatest extent possible is essential.

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This study aimed to qualitatively explore when psychiatric nurses feel rewarded for their work. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey with an open-ended question was conducted on psychiatric nurses during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Japan from July to August 2021. Data from 143 participants were used for content analyses (valid response rate = 27.9%). Data were divided into 254 record units, generating 13 categories, including “when patients left the hospital due to support for discharge,” “when patients and families showed appreciation or positive feedback for nurses,” and “when nurses felt that they were needed and trusted by patients and family members. ” Among the 13 categories, 1 category seemed to be specific to psychiatric nursing, which is “when nurses found out that patients had an active life in the community after discharge.” Therefore, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, psychiatric nurses can still feel rewarded, enabling them to maintain and improve their nursing motivation and vigorous work.

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This study aimed to implement and evaluate a web-based postpartum care program for mothers raising children under one year in the COVID-19 pandemic to provide psychological refreshment and reduce their parenting problems. The program comprised baby massage, childcare consultation service, and exchange meetings between mothers. Each session lasted for one hour. The participants were mothers raising their babies and who responded to an anonymous self-administered evaluation questionnaire. The survey period was from September 2020 to March 2022. The survey contents included outcome and process evaluations of the postpartum care program. Data from 58 valid responses were used for the evaluation (89.2%). Most of the participants were in their 30s. Mothers with one child accounted for 62.1%, and those with two or more children accounted for 37.9%. Primiparas had more breastfeeding and infant medical problems than multiparas. Multiparas had more problems with lack of sleep, fatigue, and absence of husband support than primiparas. The outcome evaluations revealed that 94.8% of the mothers felt refreshed from their participation, 77.6% responded that the program promoted communication, 75.8% indicated that physical problems were solved, 82.7% reported a reduction in childcare problems, and 60.4% responded that they had interacted with peers. The web-based postpartum care program content received more than 86.2% satisfaction rate in all categories, with multiparas having a higher satisfaction rate than primiparas. The web-based postpartum care program was found to be useful in providing mothers with a high level of refreshment, enhanced communication, reduced physical and childcare problems, and improved peer interaction.

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This study aimed to shed light on the experiences of families whose loved ones received end-of-life care through non-face-to-face visitations during the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, a qualitative descriptive study design was employed, involving four family members who experienced non-face-to-face end-of-life care visitations between 2020 and 2022. The participants were asked to describe their experiences. The analysis revealed 163 codes that were categorized into 31 subcategories and 5 categories. The study found that while the end-of-life care provided was of the highest possible quality, even with limited involvement, family members felt a strong connection with the patient despite the limited contact. They expressed sadness because restrictions prevented them from spending the final days with their loved one. In addition, they expressed both the usefulness and limitations of online end-of-life care devices and identified factors necessary to accept the patient's death. Despite the challenges and limitations of providing end-of-life care during the COVID-19 pandemic, family members viewed the visitation restrictions positively and believed that they were able to provide the best possible care under the circumstances.

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This study aimed to clarify how “Nursing care practices” is used based on descriptions in the existing literature and to explore the phenomenon of “Nursing care practices” as to how the term is used. We identified 33 target studies from Ichushi-Web. Qualitative descriptive analysis of the subject studies revealed the following categories: 1)10 describing the phenomena, contents, and characteristics of “Nursing care practices”; 2)6 describing the phenomena and situations before “Nursing care practices”; and 3)7 describing events that continue to appear in “Nursing care practices”. The relationships among the extracted categories can be drawn as a structural diagram. It was inferred that the extracted categories were cyclical in nature.

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This study aimed to reveal if there was an association between the nursing management practice of the directors of nursing of small and medium-sized hospitals and their participation in community nursing networks. A cross-sectional mail survey design was adopted. Questionnaires were administrated to 1,147 directors of nursing of hospitals with fewer than 300 beds. Activities of the community nursing networks consisted of meetings, events, and support projects for the nursing administration of small and medium-sized hospitals and the “Nursing Management Behavior Assessment Form for Nurse Managers in Small and Medium-Sized Hospitals” was used to survey nursing management practices. Data from 213 managers was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The result of multiple regression analysis found that participation in meetings was associated with two notions of nursing management practice for directors of nursing: “having an unshakeable belief in nursing management” and “connecting with others and learning by oneself”. Participation in events was associated with all four notions of nursing management practices, and participation in support projects for small and medium-sized hospitals was associated with “supporting staff growth” and “connecting with people and learning by oneself”. It can be inferred that the nursing management practice of directors of nursing of small and medium-sized hospitals can be enhanced by participating in community nursing network activities.

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The aim of this literature review was (i) to highlight the stressors that new nurses experience at work and that are related to their mental health, as well as (ii) to identify current research trends and issues. The online version of the Central Journal of Medicine and the NII Article Information Navigator were used in order to search the literature. As a result, 23 articles were identified. These articles were published between 2012 and 2022 (search date: June 2022), were confirmed to meet the research objectives, and were included in the study. The included articles revealed that the personal stressors of new nurses in the workplace can be classified into six categories: (i) communication, (ii) environment, (iii) professional identity. (iv) stress management, (v) job performance, and (vi) personal characteristics. The personal stress among new nurses was considered as a communication difficulty that arose in situations in which the new nurses realized that they did not adapt well to their working environment. In the future, it will be particularly important to deepen our understanding of the work-related communication stress they experience based on educational considerations.

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