The potential of a nursing education support system using videoconferencing

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Telecommunication in Healthcare

Background:

• Japan has 400,000 practical nurses, comprising 40% of the nursing workforce.
• A new system to upskill practical nurses to registered nurse status begins in 2001.
• Nursing schools in Hokkaido are concentrated in urban areas, limiting access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the feasibility of a videoconferencing-based education support system for nurses in Hokkaido.
• To address geographical barriers in accessing transitional nursing education.

Main Methods:

• Proposed system combines television broadcast lectures with in-person training.
• Utilizes videoconferencing technology for remote learning.

Main Results:

• Videoconferencing offers a viable solution for overcoming geographical limitations in Hokkaido.
• Telecommunication support is crucial for the success of transitional nursing education.

Conclusions:

• Telecommunication-based education is essential for effective practical nurse upskilling in Hokkaido.
• Videoconferencing can bridge the gap in accessing advanced nursing education in remote regions.