In this project, we explore phenomena related to children and families and how to provide support through literature reviews and experiential learning.
Research Keywords
Pediatric Nursing, Family Nursing
Thinking about How Children Can Be Themselves
With advances in medicine, an increasing number of children are growing up with illnesses. Pediatric nursing is not limited to care during hospitalization; it also involves providing support in various community and social settings to help children be themselves.
One of our laboratory's initiatives is supporting children with illnesses in their school life. A key focus of this is support for schoolteachers. In recent years, schoolteachers have been increasingly required to provide medical care, yet there is a lack of support, such as training, leaving many teachers feeling anxious. We are specifically working on developing a training program for teachers on how to respond to children with epilepsy. Many teachers have participated in the program, and their feedback has affirmed the significance of our efforts. At the academic meeting of the Japanese Society of Child Health, where we presented the effectiveness of the training, we were honored with the Young Investigator Award. We intend to continue our work toward building this support system.
In my project, students participate in these initiatives while also exploring issues and support methods on themes of their own interest through fieldwork and literature research.
Support in community and social life requires not only medical professionals but also the collaboration of various other specialists. In the 2024 academic year, we took advantage of the SFC environment to launch and conduct a joint project with Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care, Faculty of Policy Management, and Faculty of Environment and Information Studies. We visited various fields and, through experiential learning, examined support methods by integrating the disciplines of the three faculties. The ideas that emerged were innovative, and I myself gained many new insights. It has become a valuable place for deepening learning alongside the students.
Whenever I see our students engaging with children, their families, and their supporters with warmth and sincerity, I feel confident in the future development of pediatric nursing.
Learning from Children
Ayaka Abe, Yuri Toyotomi, and Hikaru Fukutome, Fourth-year students, Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care (at the time of writing)
In the Ozawa Project, we deepen our learning by exchanging opinions on nursing and support for children with illnesses or disabilities. In the summer of the 2024 academic year, we participated in a project to consider support measures for children with illnesses, jointly conducted by three faculties: Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care, Faculty of Policy Management, and Faculty of Environment and Information Studies. We visited a total of five facilities, including a children's hospice, a nursery school incorporating inclusive education, and a special needs school. Through fieldwork and discussions with students from other faculties, we were able to gain perspectives different from our daily studies in Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care. Based on these experiences, for our graduation project, we focused on and further explored inclusive education for children with disabilities.