The Department of Fundamental Nursing covers topics such as an introduction to nursing (major concepts, theoretical frameworks, legal frameworks, professional perspectives, current status, and challenges), the nursing processes, nursing theory, and basic nursing techniques. Students acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that form the foundation of nursing. This education establishes a foundation for developing practitioners capable of delivering high-quality nursing care, prepares students for advanced professional nursing studies, and fosters the development of future nursing professionals.

 However, in recent years, the clinical nursing environment has changed dramatically due to advances in medical technology and the increasing diversity and severity of patient conditions. Consequently, nurses are expected to demonstrate enhanced of clinical reasoning and judgment, and stronger practical skills. Simultaneously, persistent challenges have emerged that must be addressed, including traffic issues.

 Therefore, this research seeks to identify ways in which not only clinical and community healthcare settings, but also nursing education—both workforce development and professional training—can bring about meaningful improvements. Studies on nursing education contribute directly to the development of nursing practice competencies and generate insights that help steer clinical and community practices in a positive direction.

 Similarly, research focusing on care recipients has yielded findings that promote high-quality nursing centered on patients and families with complex health problems across the hyperacute, acute, recovery, and maintenance (community) phases. These findings have practical implications for nursing education and workforce development, indicating optimal focal points for improvement, enhancement, and instructional guidance.

 Moreover, the process of extracting original insights through a meticulous analysis of language and subjecting them to quantitative verification cultivates researchers’ essential abilities to articulate ideas and engage in critical reflection, which in turn strengthens teaching skills and ultimately contributes to the improvement of nursing practice competencies. From this perspective, we look forward to exploring these topics through student research projects.

 Building on the above, and with the aim of realizing better nursing, the Department of Fundamental Nursing—serving as the foundation of nursing—will continue to investigate what nursing is in response to changing times and to pursue education and research so that teaching, practice, and research align effectively.

Takiko Imai, Professor

To support workforce development in nursing practice, we conduct surveys and conceptual analyses of the current state of basic education and new‑graduate nurse education, and develop evaluation tools and educational programs. The main themes are as follows:

• Indispensable factors for improving practical nursing competencies

https://doi.org/10.11355/isljsl.95.41
https://doi.org/10.24525/jaqp.20.1_100

• Exploring and Evaluating the Educational Content Required in Basic Nursing Education: Insights from Clinical Practicum Outcomes

https://doi.org/10.24525/jaqp.23.1_98
https://doi.org/10.24754/jjrcsns.24.1_43
https://doi.org/10.18902/jaen.21.0_27

• A study on developing the multitasking abilities required of newly graduated nurses working in settings where they simultaneously care for more than one patient.

https://doi.org/10.15065/jjsnr.20200812109
https://doi.org/10.15065/jjsnr.20180719030
https://doi.org/10.24525/jaqp.19.1_141
www.jsomt.jp/journal/pdf/065030111.pdf

• A study on a new basic nursing practicum that fosters a broad understanding of nursing care recipients from a community perspective

• A study on career development and professional identity among nursing professionals

Marina Yamamoto, Associate Professor

This study focuses on developing comprehensive support systems that help maintain physical and mental well-being and improve the quality of life of individuals receiving home-based care and their families. The goal is to contribute to building community environments in which people can live safely and peacefully, even under difficult circumstances.

• Empirical Investigation into the Daily Lives and Caregiving Practices of Children with Medical Complexity (CMC) and Their Families

• Resilience of family caregivers providing long-term care to children with medical complexity (CMC) and Adults in Home Settings

• Characteristics of events that foster a positive attitude and emotions among individuals with ALS and their family caregivers during home-based care.

Naoko Takechi, Senior Assistant Professor

I am engaged in the development of nursing practice models and human resource training for operating room nurses to meet the demands of increasingly advanced and diversified perioperative care.
In addition, I am involved in the development of support systems for older adults utilizing AI and robotic technologies.

• Development of an Evaluation Index for Career Maturity of Operating Room Nurses

• Construction of a Role Model for Operating Room Nurses Adaptable to the Current Perioperative Healthcare System

• Development of a Reminiscence AI Health Robot System to Support Cognitive Function and Healthy Living in Older Adults

• Development of a Matching System to Promote the Continued Use of Communication Robots by Hospital and Care Facility Staff

Ikuko Fujiwara, Assistant Professor

My research focuses on clinical judgment in nursing practice during patient deterioration in critical care settings. Based on the field of intensive care nursing, strategies for developing nursing competencies and providing educational support to novice nurses were explored.

• Research on the development of nursing practice competencies during patient deterioration.

• Research on clinical judgment related to early signs of deterioration in critically ill patients in the ICU

The faculty in the Fundamental Nursing course supervises a large number of nursing students' graduation research projects. Among these, the main recent themes that have progressed to conference presentations and similar outcomes are as follows:

Takiko Imai, Professor

• Aspects of nursing for families experiencing unexpected relative deaths in emergency and intensive care units

https://doi.org/10.18902/jaen.25.0_29

• Literature Review of Psychological Characteristics of Nurses Involved in Disaster Nursing and Their Support

www.jsomt.jp/journal/pdf/067010060.pdf

• Challenges faced by patients with chronic heart failure in self-management

www.jsomt.jp/journal/pdf/067030199.pdf

• Awareness and difficulty in nursing for sudden changes in patients among final-year nursing college final year students: Analysis of free-answer comments using text mining

https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1050296808061725312

• Components of occupational orientation by year among nursing college students: Analysis of free-answer comments using text mining

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jane/32/2-1/32_55/_pdf/-char/ja

• Structure of Knowledge Integration Competence Required for Evidence Based Nursing Practice: A Text Mining Analysis of Nurses’ Descriptive Statements by Years of Experience

Marina Yamamoto, Associate Professor

• Medication Adherence in Home-Based Elderly Patients: Nursing Interventions Aimed at Improving Compliance

• Differences in stress between nursing students and registered nurses in clinical settings: coping strategies based on stress-related factors

• Stress and Coping Among Japanese University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

• Family Caregivers’ Difficulties and Needs in Thermoregulation Support for Children with Medical Needs

Naoko Takechi, Senior Assistant Professor

• Characteristics of professional identity among operating room nurses in their first to third years after graduation.

• An Examination of Ethical Issues Encountered by Nursing Students During Clinical Practice and Their Coping Behaviors.

• Nursing students’ perceptions of the usefulness of communication robots in clinical settings

• A Literature Review on Coping Behaviors Influencing Job Retention Among Novice Nurses Experiencing a Desire to Resign.

• Literature review of factors supporting the continuation of social participation among community-dwelling older adults

• The Impact of Nurses’ Role Model Behaviors Encountered by Nursing Students During Clinical Practicum on Nursing Students’ Career Exploration