International Section Nursing Philosophy and Theory in Japan : Current Trends and Challenges

This study aimed to identify the current state of nursing theory development among Japanese scholars by analyzing the syllabi of doctoral nursing programs in Japan to examine the educational content relating to nursing philosophy and theory and by reviewing the related literature. Only 17.2% of the doctoral-level nursing programs in Japan offer courses in philosophy or theory. Florence Nightingale was the most frequently discussed figure in the literature. Middle-range and situation-specific theories originating in Japan have emerged relatively later than those introduced by Western theorists. Recently, the development of nursing theories, particularly situation-specific theories, has begun in Japan, showing promising prospects for advancement in the field.