Hiroshima, Japan

Palliative care nursing is growing throughout Japan. The latest group of nurses who have earned certification in this field were recently graduated at a ceremony in Hiroshima.

There are great expectations for this new front line of care givers. Cancer, among other life-threatening illnesses, confront patients and their families with difficult symptoms, and painful psychological and physical issues.

In the midst of these difficulties, the palliative care nurse attempts to emphasize quality of life in their interaction with patients and families. In this way, they work to enhance their relationships at this painful time in their lives. With rising awareness, society is asking for more of these professionally trained nurses who can tackle palliative care problems.

Hiroshima University Hospital

The School of Nursing Practice at Hiroshima University is a pioneer in the field, providing a palliative care curriculum certification for its nurses. At the recent graduate ceremony of these certified nurses, they were praised for the months of effort and hard training that went into achieving this goal. They are seen as future leaders in the field of palliative care.

A "Certified Palliative Care Nurse" qualification is one of the accreditations that the Japanese Nursing Association has established to improve the quality of nursing care. It emphasizes the skills and knowledge in the field of nursing care at a high level.

Certified nursing qualifications are now offered in 21 different fields including palliative care, intensive care, such subjects as cancer chemotherapy.

There are now 10 institutions in Japan that offer certification in palliative care nursing, including Hokkaido University of Health Sciences, Hiroshima University School of Nursing, the Japan Nurses Association in Tokyo, and the Shizuoka Cancer Center.

To apply for the course in palliative care certification, one must have qualified as a nurse and experienced at least 5 years in nursing and public health care. Eligible applicants will then undergo an intensive six month course.

Graduates who finished six tough months of palliative care training

This graduating class at numbered 20 people, with about half of the nurses from outside Hiroshima Prefecture.

These graduates are all nursing professions who came from mid-sized medical institutions to study the palliative care program in order help patients and their families face the harsh realities of terminal illness. They put in 615 hours of practical training in palliative care with actual patients outside the university campus.

The nurses studied the issues surrounding pain relief, and attained a good understanding of grief and loss. Despite the emotional trials of the course and practical work with patients, the 20 graduates felt they had reaffirmed their responsibility as a nurse.

Yet to come in May are final written exams on the subject of palliative care, required by the Japan Nursing Association.

“Light of Nursing" monument in front of the Hiroshima University Graduate School of Health

Professor Yoko Kiyoko of the Hiroshima University Nursing Practice Center told the graduates: “The day has arrived that you can now give good professional palliative care to patients and family. "

The Nippon Foundation has supported the educational goals for palliative care, and has provided hospice care seminars with experts in the field for palliative care nurses at its headquarters in Tokyo. The Foundation was thanked by Professor Kiyoki at the graduation ceremony for all the support received in achieving the training of palliative care nurses.