Faculty of Health Care and Nursing

The Faculty of Health Care and Nursing provides students wishing to become nurses, public health nurses, and midwives with the education required to graduate after four years and pass the relevant national examinations. Nursing education at Juntendo has a history dating back over 100 years and seeks to maintain the tradition of holistic education cultivated over this period, while training nursing professionals who are highly intelligent, have a well-rounded education, and demonstrate compassion and humanity. The faculty’s educational philosophy focuses on nursing that heals the mind, not just the body. This is based on the spirit of the university motto Jin (benevolence), which means "I exist as you exist, with a heart that considers and cherishes others."

More specifically, we respect the individuality of each and every person, with students and faculty members forging a close relationship through nursing education, extracurricular activities, and the like. We give consideration in the educational process to ensuring that you can enjoy an enriching student life. We hereby disclose to students, staff and faculty members the following educational mission, with the aim of maintaining and developing this educational environment.

We regard classes not solely as a means of passing on knowledge and techniques, but also as a place for education that cultivates a sense of humanity through face-to-face communication between faculty members and students. The same applies to clinical placements (the generic term for practicums outside the university, in settings such as hospitals, public health centers, and patients’ homes) outside the classroom.

Teachers have a responsibility to educate students, while students have a responsibility to learn. In particular, students in the Faculty of Health Care and Nursing must be aware that failure to study is an impediment to the delivery of patient/family centered team-based medicine.

By educating students, faculty members also educate themselves. Faculty members must be aware that constantly devising ways to improve students’ motivation to learn leads to further enhancement of the educational system, as well as leading to an increase in the standard of faculty members’ activities not only in the field of education at Juntendo, but also in the research arena.

Across the whole curriculum, faculty members strive to impart to the next generation what they themselves have learned in a manner that is easier to understand. The real test of faculty members’ skills will be whether or not they can transform students’ attitude to learning from passive to active, so that students demonstrate a willingness to take the initiative and learn for themselves. Teaching is about more than just setting assignments. Seminars also are highly valued, even when dealing with themes outside faculty members’ fields of specialism.

Not only faculty members, but also administrative staff and everyone else employed at Juntendo are aware that they are all closely involved in educating students. The history of nursing at Juntendo dates back to 1868, when Sugimoto Kane became the very first nurse in Japan. Under the guidance of second Juntendo director Sato Takanaka and others, she became Japan’s first professional nurse in 1873 when she was appointed as head nurse of Juntendo Hospital. Systematic nursing education at Juntendo began in 1896, with the opening of its nurse training school. Over the 123 years since then, Juntendo has trained nurses, public health nurses, and midwives capable of practicing nursing that heals the mind, not just the body, based on the spirit of Jin (benevolence), which means “a heart that considers and cherishes others.” This tradition of nursing education can be seen in the 99% average pass rate achieved by this faculty’s alumni in the National Nurse Examination over the past five years.

We value holistic education aimed at shaping an appealing human with an abundant, well-rounded education.

We offer education in partnership with the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Faculty of Health Science and Nursing, Faculty of International Liberal Arts, and Faculty of Health Science. Students, staff, and faculty members work together not only in the areas of education and research, but also in cultural and sporting club activities.

We have a range of hospitals suited to nursing practicum goals. Students can do their practicums at affiliated hospitals with distinctive features, such as an advanced treatment facility, a hospital specializing in geriatric medicine, an emergency and critical care hospital to which patients are brought by helicopter air ambulances, a regional care hospital, and a psychiatric hospital.

Through the academic advisor system, we provide students with support to enable them to lead an enriching student life that will assist them in delivering the kind of nursing that they themselves envisage.

We maintain close educational partnerships with Juntendo’s affiliated hospitals. The whole university works together to provide powerful support in everything from education through to job-hunting and postgraduate education, with nurses at the Faculty of Medicine’s six affiliated hospitals providing students with education and guidance as clinical instructors within our faculty.

We provide education aimed at cultivating nurses capable of playing an active role in the international arena. We offer English, French, and Chinese courses, enabling students to study conversation with native speakers of those languages. Students can also undertake overseas nursing internships in such countries as the USA, the UK, and Thailand.

We are looking forward to welcoming students from who have a desire to acquire knowledge, a sense of initiative, and the Jin spirit that cherishes others, to study at the Faculty of Health Care and Nursing.

We provide nursing training in the United States, the United Kingdom, Thailand, and other countries with the aim of understanding different cultures, developing nursing practice and research from a global perspective, and cultivating basic skills that help develop leaders in the field of cross-cultural nursing.

Graduate, Nurse

Q. What kind of work are you doing now?
I work in a newly established community-based comprehensive care ward of Juntendo University Tokyo Koto Geriatric Medical Center. I mainly provide treatment and nursing care for patients who are brought in by emergency transport, collaborating with professionals from multiple disciplines from the time of admission. We work to prevent the progression of frailty and support early discharge. As a member of the Nursing Care Review Committee, I aim to minimize behavioral restrictions and focus on alleviating the overall suffering of patients who are prone to acute complications.

Q. How do you make use of what you learned in the Faculty of Health Care and Nursing?
At university, I learned not only specialized nursing knowledge and theory but also gained valuable insights through listening to patients during clinical practice about their illnesses, conditions, and life experiences. In my current workplace, I draw upon not only that knowledge and experience but also the lessons I gained as a student. What I continue to value most is “the heart of nursing.”

Graduate, Public Health Nurse

Q. What kind of work are you doing now?
To help elderly residents continue living in their familiar communities, I visit senior clubs to provide health education and conduct home visits for those who require health guidance based on health check results. I collaborate not only with medical institutions but also with local welfare commissioners, community comprehensive support centers, and lifestyle support coordinators to promote the creation of healthy and supportive local environments.

Q. How do you make use of what you learned in the Faculty of Health Care and Nursing?
The way of thinking I learned about analyzing community health issues and planning health education continues to support my work today. After graduation, while working, I felt the desire to study further and consulted with my professors, which led me to pursue graduate studies. Through their dedicated guidance and the inspiration I received from classmates with diverse professional backgrounds, I was able to deepen my learning in new ways.

Graduate, Midwife

Q. What kind of work are you doing now?
As a midwife, I provide care and support for mothers and babies during pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and the neonatal period. Every delivery is different, and because it directly involves the lives of both mother and child, it carries great responsibility and daily challenges. However, I find deep fulfillment in being present for the birth of new life and witnessing many first moments. Every day, I strive to provide the safest and best possible care for my patients.

Q. How do you make use of what you learned in the Faculty of Health Care and Nursing?
Although my student life took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, the creative lessons and exercises led by professors in various fields, together with the encouragement and mutual drive of classmates striving toward the same goals, enabled me to steadily acquire essential knowledge and skills despite the restrictions. Through clinical training, I learned the depth of nursing that comes from connecting knowledge and technique in practice. After entering the workforce, I continue to apply that learning by viewing patients from multiple perspectives and pursuing individualized, patient-centered care.

Student

Q. What do you study in the first and second years?
In the first half of the first year, you mainly study liberal arts subjects and learn the basic knowledge necessary for acquiring nursing skills. In addition, many classes incorporate group work and discussions, which help you develop the communication skills essential for being a nurse.

Q. How do you spend your free time and what extracurricular activities are you involved in?
During breaks between classes, I often chat with friends in the classroom lounge space. Since I like sports, I belong to both the swimming and volleyball clubs. I enjoy interacting with students from other departments, and I have fun exercising and working up a sweat.

Student

Q. In your studies during the 3rd and 4th years, what do you make a special effort with?
I build on the basic knowledge I have learned so far while deepening and consolidating my understanding of specialized fields. By asking my teachers questions and listening to their experiences, it becomes easier to visualize actual clinical settings, which helps me gain more practical knowledge.

Q. How do you take a break and relax while leading such a busy daily life?
I have many ways to relax, such as taking a bath, sleeping, listening to music, having coffee, going to soup shops, or shopping. What helps me most to unwind, however, is chatting with my friends at school. Talking about things with close friends and encouraging each other gives me the strength to keep going.