A Literature Review of Professional Issues Faced by Assistants in Nursing Colleges in Japan

Abstract

Background: The rapid increase in the number of nursing colleges indicates an urgent need to increase the quantity and quality of faculty members. However, while this must be improved, assistants working in nursing colleges are facing various issues.

Objective: This study aimed to review the domestic literature pertaining to assistants in nursing colleges and identify the issues they face in the workplace.

Methods: Of the 61 references extracted using the Ichushi-Web, 16 were selected for analysis. The professional issues of assistants in the text were extracted as codes, and subcategories and categories were created by examining similarities.

Results: A total of 68 codes, 10 subcategories, and three categories were identified. These three categories were the issues related to teaching activities, career development, and the execution of roles in the university organization.

Conclusions: For issues related to teaching activities, continuing education that matches each assistant’s nursing practice skills, knowledge of pedagogy, and past research activities must be provided, such as work assignments and training. Regarding career development issues, individual assistants must clarify their career and future, and the university organization must plan and manage faculty development based on the characteristics of nursing education. For issues in the execution of roles in the university organization, individual assistants must strive to overcome their weaknesses and use their strengths to build self-confidence, and the university organization needs to improve the environment by enabling assistants to reflect on and give meaning to their experiences.