Background: Okinawa Prefecture is one of Japan’s 47 prefectures. It consists of 37 inhabited islands. Public health nurses (PHNs) working on those islands face challenges in accessing decent training and role models in their jobs due to low staffing and high turnover rates (Chinen, 2020). Continuing education programs specialized in island PHN are needed to prevent resignations and promote career development. This study aims to develop the Island Public Health Nurses’ Continuing Education (IPCE) program.
Methods: A continuing education workgroup, comprising the island PHN, Okinawa Prefecture PHNs, and other stakeholders, was established. First, the workgroup verified education needs from a previous study in which the researcher interviewed island PHNs. The workgroup organized the last training program, which included guidelines for novice training by the Japan Nursing Association, as well as the career ladder of PHNs in Japan. It clarified the educational content and goals for novice needs. Finally, we conducted a questionnaire survey for the island municipalities about the contents of this continuing education program.
Results: The IPCE program, which focuses on novices, consists of on-the-job training (OJT), off-the-job training (OFF-JT), and self-learning. The contents of the OJT adhere fundamentally to the previous program, but it also incorporates self-management and networking with other island PHNs. OFF-JT contents reinforce OJT. The contents are community assessment, self-management skills, case studies by island expert PHNs, and others. Furthermore, the island PHNs foster networking by attending the programs. Participants can access these programs not only face-to-face but also via Zoom and on-demand video. Approximately half of the island’s municipalities in Okinawa responded to the questionnaire about the IPCE program. While all responding municipalities supported the IPCE program, some had challenges implementing it.
Conclusions: We developed the IPCE program. Among the contents, self-management and the island PHNs’ fostering of networking are unprecedented.
