Postgraduate Developments Among Perianesthesia-Trained Nursing Graduates in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Survey

To elucidate the postgraduation situation of those who have completed a perianesthesia nurse (PAN) educational course offered in master's degree programs in Japan.

This cross-sectional study used an anonymous self-administered questionnaire.

Of the 42 individuals who completed a PAN educational course offered in master's degree programs in Japan by March 2021, 41 were targeted, excluding the author of this study. The questionnaire was distributed by mail between November 20, 2021, and January 14, 2022, and the participants were asked to return the completed questionnaire by mail. Those working as PANs were asked about their work content, work satisfaction, and thoughts on their prospects in the perianesthesia nursing field. Those not working as a PAN were asked about their future intentions to do so.

The response rate was 95.1% (39/41). PANs are involved in various perianesthesia tasks, and there were no respondents who answered "No" to the question of whether they were glad to have become a PAN. However, of those working as PANs, only 16 (53.3%) indicated that they would like to continue working in that role. Few respondents (n = 3; 10.0%) considered future PAN prospects to be "good," while eight (26.7%) respondents answered "poor," and many (n = 19; 63.3%) stated "neither."

Under the current situation, PANs in Japan do not necessarily have a positive outlook for the future, the causes for which must be analyzed to make the necessary improvements.