Employment

Nurse

The role of a nurse is to alleviate physical and psychological pain and distress caused by health problems, as well as providing support to people in resolving issues they are facing. In addition, a nurse needs to practice scientific nursing by keeping up with the advancement of medicine and maintaining scientific curiosity.

In order to nurture such nurses, our college leverages the advantages of being part of a university in collaborating with various disciplines including medicine, psychology, and sociology, with a focus on nursing studies. Moreover, with the aim of improving students’ practical skills, we provide not only on-site practicum opportunities but also the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and the care colloquium program in which nursing students will learn and practice team-based care together with students in other fields including medicine, healthcare, and social work. We are one of few universities that adopt an innovative approach to education.

Students graduating from our college will be conferred a Bachelor of Nursing degree. Graduates will have obtained a national certificate for nursing. Their potential career pathway is working as a nurse in a medical institution in Japan, including a general hospital that provides advanced care.

Public health nurse

People from diverse backgrounds live together in the community, including infants, seniors, the healthy, and the sick. A public health nurse is a public health specialist who provides various kinds of support to the community. The objectives of public health nursing include protecting people’s health, preventing diseases in the community, helping the sick recover, and assisting people in leading a healthy life with purposes that motivate them.

Currently, most public health nurses work in a local or public health center. Some of them work in a company or a wellness center. (Entry to the public health nurse course is selective (competitive). The number of enrollment is limited.)

Work of a public health nurse

  • Assessing the situation of the local community, evaluating health issues, and understanding local health needs.
  • Planning and providing various public health services that address health needs in the local community.
  • At a public health center, which is the hub of local public health, a public health nurse implements broad, specialized, and technical projects that are designed to protect health in the community.
  • In a local government that works closely with local people, such as a city, town, and village, a public health nurse engages in tasks such as health check-ups, health consultation, health workshops, and home visits, in order to protect people’s health.
  • Collaborating with professionals in different areas, such as healthcare, medicine, and social work, in building a system for protecting the health of local people.

School nurse

A school nurse is a member of the teaching staff of a school and is responsible for the management of students’ physical and mental health as well as health education. A school nurse has specialist knowledge of both nursing and education. They normally work from the school’s sickbay and perform the following tasks: providing first aid for sickness and injuries, health check-ups and health advice, health consultation for children with varying issues and concerns, and group committee activities such as a school health committee. The College of Nursing provides classes in subjects that are required for the Type 1 School Nurse License. The subjects include nursing, education, psychology, and medicine. Students can learn health and nursing in school settings from a broad perspective. Year 4 students participate in the school nursing practicum program in which they will deepen their knowledge and improve their skills through practical experience. Potential pathways after graduation include pursuing further study in a graduate school and finding a job as a school nurse. The University of Tsukuba has a graduate school where students can obtain the specialist school nurse license upon completion of the course. The license is for those who pursue a leadership role. A graduate who wishes to be employed as a school nurse in a government school will need to pass a pre-employment test for teachers, which is run by each prefecture and city. (Entry to the school nurse course is selective (competitive). The number of enrollment is limited.)

Further study in a graduate school

In April 2007, the Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences launched the Master of Nursing and the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing programs. The objectives of these nursing programs are as follows: helping people achieve happiness, improving and bettering the community, and contributing to cultural development. The school is committed to educating students to become professionals with deep knowledge of cutting-edge research in nursing and advanced medicine in 21st century Japan as well as a flexible mind that helps them address changes in health and care practices. Potential career pathways for students enrolled in a postgraduate course in nursing include advanced nursing specialist and educator or researcher in nursing.

Career Design

License

Path