On the improvement of professional qualities and competencies in graduate education

For the past five years, I have taught working adults, including middle school teachers, school nurses, psychologists, physical therapists, and hospital nurses at three different graduate schools. This presentation focuses on one of those classes, instructing special needs education and holistic care for sick children. The goals to be achieved are 1) to cultivate professional attitudes and values, and 2) to deepen professional knowledge and understanding. As for the effects of the class, through the graduate students, the person in charge  of the “Hospital for Children with Cancer” contacted us for information. The graduate students engaged in education were able to deepen their awareness of the importance of the environment surrounding sick children and the need for holistic education and reasonable accommodation, while the students engaged in medical care commented that they were able to deepen their understanding of the mental state of children undergoing treatment and to make them aware of the importance of holistic medical care.

Naoka Ono,Ph.D.^*

* Faculty of Healthcare Management, Nihon Fukushi University.