Mai Taki
International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists, Japan
Title: Trends and issues of advanced practice registered nurses in Japan: The situation of anesthesia nursing
Biography
Biography: Mai Taki
Abstract
Japanese National Qualification: We have three national qualifications in Japan. These are nurse, midwife and public health nurse. To become a midwife and public health nurse, the qualifications of nurses are required. There are seven ways to become a nurse in Japan.
When had the discussion about APRN started? The first discussion about APRN in Japan was held in 2004. One of trigger was anesthesiologist shortage. The number of surgeries decreased and several hospitals were forced to go bankrupt. The Japan Hospital Association said at medical subcommittee of the social security council of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW). Japan should also train nurse anesthetists like the United States.
Under the cooperation of IFNA: After that, I exchanged information with International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists (IFNA) and worked hard to establish Japanese anesthesia professional nursing master course. The first graduate school was founded in 2010 and has increased to four schools in 2018. IFNA founded in 1989, is currently playing a central role in anesthesia nursing. IFNA has 43 country members, including Japan.
Credentialing system in Japan: Worldwide, APRN is classified into 4 types, CRNA, CNM, NP and CNS. But in Japan, both the curriculum and accredited organizations have various credentialing systems. In addition, MHLW designated and began new nursing system that calls training system for nurses to perform specific medical interventions since 2015. There are thirty-eight specific interventions and grouped into 21 categories. It includes specific anesthesia nursing.
Who is APRN in Japan? Japan Association of Nursing Programs in Universities defines APN as only “Certified Nurse Specialists” and “Japanese Nurse Practitioners”. Anesthesia management is one of the important and specialized fields of APRN in Japan, but they have not been able to conduct their role under Japanese system yet.