Nagano College of Nursing

History and Overview
Nagano College of Nursing was established in
1995 by Nagano Prefecture for bachelor level fouryear nursing education, and has grown toaccommodate graduate programs for Master's andDoctor's degrees since 1999. Our aim is tocontribute to promotion of health of people
through outstanding education and research innursing.
Nagano Prefecture is famous for its longevity of
inhabitants and low medical expenses, and nurses
have greatly contributed to these achievements. In
our undergraduate program, all the students takecommunity nursing practicum and, uponcompletion of the program, become qualiﬁed for
applying for the National Examinations to obtainthe license of Public Health Nurse in addition tothat of Registered Nurse. Our graduates are taking
important roles as staﬀ nurses, Certiﬁed Nurse
Specialists, nursing administrators, and professors
in various institutions.

1Our campus is located in Komagane City,a countryside small town in Ina Valley
between the Central and Southern
Japanese Alps at an altitude of 3000
meters. Students learn nursing andliberal arts enjoying the beauty ofnature and the cool comfortable climate
as well as the friendly atmosphere of
the town.

2Foundational Philosophy
Our foundational philosophy is:"The educational environment helps students discover anddevelop their own potential to their maximum extent. Eachstudent is unique and therefore talents and potentials are different within any student group."This philosophy was put forward by the ﬁrst president Dr.
Takako Mitoh who expressed it in our language that literallymeans: "so that each student's unique gifted potential evolves
into full bloom."3

Greetings from the President
I was formally inaugurated as president ofNagano College of Nursing on April 1, 2018.
NCN has marked 25 years since the establishment in 1995. By the end of September,
2019, NCN had turned out 1786 graduateswith Bachelorʼs degree in Nursing and 177
graduates with Masterʼs or Doctorʼs degree
in Nursing.
The environment of human life is rapidly changing. The advanceof technology has lowered the barriers such as time, distance, andeven the diﬀerence of languages that had limited our life. On theother hand, the change may sometimes discord with biological,
social, and spiritual nature of human beings. The nurses who carefor those who suﬀer in the time of this great transition need to havea global view and deep understanding of humanity. This meansthat nurses need to pay attention on global aspects of the problem
and how it aﬀects humanity while applying the notion of caring andwisdom to their nursing practice and taking initiatives for desirable
changes as well as keeping sound traditions in their work. We believe that students can cultivate such an attitude and behavior in
NCN, by discovering and developing their own potential to theirmaximum extent just as our foundational philosophy tells.
In addition, I would love to make best eﬀorts to change our college
into "Magnet College" that draws people from inside and outside
Japan while I promote and enrich its friendly atmosphere and academic environment and make NCN known to the world by its excellence and originality of education and research.
Join us to study the art and science of nursing. Thanks a lot.
January 1, 2020

Akio Kitayama, Ph.D.
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Admission
Applicants for admission must meet the following requirements.
Undergraduate Program in Nursing (4-year program)
1. Completed Senior High School in Japan or equivalent education outside Japan.
2. Must pass one of the following entrance examinations. They
are done in Japanese language and include an interview.
A) Entrance examination for applicants recommended by highschools in Nagano PrefectureB) First entrance examination for applicants who took the National Center Test (in February)C) Second entrance examination for applicants who took the
National Center Test (in March)
Master's Program in Nursing (2-year program*)
1. Bachelor's degree or equivalent education.
2. Must pass an entrance examination including written tests
and presentations of a research proposal (in October andJanuary).
3. License for nursing practice is required for CNS (Certiﬁed
Nurse Specialist) courses, which are oﬀered in Child HealthNursing, Gerontological Nursing, and Psychiatric Nursing.
5Doctor's Program in Nursing (3-year program*)
1. Master's degree.
2. Must pass an entrance examination including written tests
and presentations of a research proposal (in October andJanuary).

* An optional extended-period program at the same amount of
total tuition may be granted for students with any unavoidable
reason (working, child rearing, home caregiving, etc.) requiring a longer period for completing the program. This option
can be requested only at the application for admission. Students granted this option can still complete the program earlier than scheduled and obtain the degree by so requesting in
advance of their defense (i.e. before the winter closure) andpaying oﬀ the total tuition.
For further information or application forms, please email tothe following address.
<irc@nagano-nurs.ac.jp>
6Degree Programs
Undergraduate Program and Courses
The undergraduate program includes various courses in nursing and liberal arts.
All the students are required to take Public Health Nursing
courses in addition to Registered Nurse courses.
The degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is awarded upon successful completion of all the required courses andthe required number of elective courses.
Midwifery courses are taken by a limited number of selectedstudents in addition to usual courses.
All the BSN graduates are qualiﬁed to take the national examinations for the licenses of Registered Nurse and Public Health
Nurse.
The BSN graduates who successfully completed the midwifery
courses are qualiﬁed to take the national examination for Midwife's license in addition to those of Registered Nurse and Public
Health Nurse.
Current enrollment includes 341 undergraduate students. NCN
granted 1543 bachelorʼs degrees by the end of the academic year
2015.

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Graduate Programs and Courses
NCN Graduate School oﬀers Master's and Doctor's degree programs.
The Master's program includes CNS courses in GerontologicalNursing, Child Health Nursing, and Psychiatric Nursing, in addition to the thesis courses.
An overseas training course is oﬀered for students to broaden
their horizons of nursing. It consists of a training of academic
communication and a study visit to universities in San Francisco.
A well-developed tele-teaching system using the internet helps
students living in remote areas attend distant classes.
Graduate students who have any unavoidable reason (e.g. working, child rearing, and home caregiving) to require a longer
period for completing the program may be granted an extended
period (of up to double the normal length) at the same amount of
total tuition. This option can be requested only at the application
for admission. Students granted this option can still complete theprogram earlier than scheduled and obtain the degree by sorequesting in advance of their defense (i.e. before the winter closure) and paying oﬀ the total tuition.
Current enrollment includes 28 graduate students.
NCN granted 145 masterʼs degrees and 18 doctorʼs degrees by
the end of the academic year 2015.
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Degree Programs
Areas of Study in Graduate Programs
The Master's and Doctor's degree programs are organized according to the following ten areas. Students are required tomajor in one of these areas. The examples in the description ofeach area are studies carried out by the researchers there andare not intended to indicate any limitation. Applicants for admission to NCN Graduate School are strongly recommended tomake contact, in advance of application, with the faculty member(s) below the description of the areas of their interest for
more information about potential studies for degree candidates.

9Medical Microbiology and
Infection Medicine

Maternity and Midwifery
Nursing

Pathophysiology
Nursing
Foundation
Nursing
Management
Adult Nursing
Gerontological NursingChild HealthNursing

Nagano Collegeof
Nursing

Mental HealthNursing
Public Health andHome Care Nursing
Satoyama Nursing and Telecare

10Degree Programs
Areas of Study in Graduate Programs
Pathophysiology (Master's Program)
The area covers studies for understanding the functional
status and mechanisms of the human body in illness requiredfor improving nursing care and treatment. The examples ofstudies are development of a practical method for assessmentof subcutaneous circulation and development of a pathologicalmodel of pressure ulcer for examining the eﬀect of applicationof stem cells.
En TAKASHI, MD, Ph.D. in Medicine, Professor
email: takashi@nagano-nurs.ac.jp
The area also covers chemical and biological studies. The examples are studies on the prevention of bubble formation in
drip transfusions and the eﬀect of water exercise on elderly
people.
Katsuya OTA, Ph.D. in Medicine, Professor
email: katsuyaota@nagano-nurs.ac.jp11Medical Microbiology and Infection Medicine (Master's Program)This subject area is for medical microbiology and infectious
diseases. Students will learn the medical knowledge and thescientiﬁc rational thinking needed for evidence-based nursing,through our program organized with interactive lectures,
meetings and their advanced research. The following studies
are currently performed; development of practical immunological methods for diagnosis of staphylococcal infections, regulatory system of peptidoglycan-turnover involved in the bacterial proliferation, and protective role of the antibody to soluble
lytic transglycosylase homologue or iron-uptake system component in Staphylococcus aureus infection.
Noriaki SAKATA, Ph.D. in Medicine, Professor
email: n2sakata@nagano-nurs.ac.jp

12Degree Programs
Areas of Study in Graduate Programs
Fundamental Nursing

The area covers studies on concepts, knowledge, skills, theories, and ethics for nursing practice, and education. The examples are studies on the patient-nurse empathy, the corporeality
in patient-nurse interaction, qualitative analyses of basic nursing techniques, nursing process and practice in palliative care.
Yukiko ITO, Ph.D. in Nursing, Professor (Nursing Foundation)email: yukiko.i@nagano-nurs.ac.jp
International and disaster nursing courses are also oﬀered innursing graduate program. The examples are studies on the
cross-cultural nursing and the eﬀects of overseas aid in nursing and the human security of rescue personnel in a disaster.
Noriko MOCHIZUKI, Ph.D. in Nursing, Professor (International and Disaster Nursing)email: mochizuki@nagano-nurs.ac.jp

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Nursing Administration

The area covers studies on concepts, knowledge, skills, theories, and ethics for nursing practice, education, and management. The examples are studies on the competency of nursing
administrators, stress management of nurses and administrators, and safety management and care service quality inlong-term care facilities.
Sayuri KANEKO, Ph.D. in Medicine, Professor (Nursing Administration)email: kanekosa@nagano-nurs.ac.jp

14Degree Programs
Maternity and Midwifery Nursing
The area covers studies on womenʼs health based on reproductive health/rights. The examples are studies on nursing
care for women receiving fertility treatment, women's healthpromotion in accordance with diﬀerent life stages, and midwives' career development and occupational identity. The
area also covers historical studies on midwifery, child-rearing,and sexuality.
Satoko FUJIHARA, Ph.D. in Medicine, Professor
email: fujihara@nagano-nurs.ac.jp

15Child Health Nursing
The area covers studies of nursing support for children andtheir families with perspective of their development and respect of their human rights. The examples are studies on nursing care for child cancer and QOL of hospitalized children.
The area also covers the terminal and grief care for dying children and their siblings and parents.
Sachie TAKEUCHI, MSN, Associate Professor
email: sachie@nagano-nurs.ac.jp

16Degree Programs
Adult Nursing
The area covers studies of nursing care for adult patients requiring medical treatment or self-management and their families. The examples are studies on self-management of chronic
and acute patients with cancers, psychological and social factors in QOL of chronic and acute patients as well as their families.
〔 under construction 〕

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Gerontological Nursing
The area covers studies of nursing care and health promotion
for elderly people in facilities and at home as well as their families. The examples are studies on the terminal care for patients with dementia, respect of patient's will in end-of-life
care, and stress management and QOL of home caregivers.
Midori WATANABE, Ph.D. in Nursing, Professor
email: mwatanabe@nagano-nurs.ac.jp
Mayumi CHIBA, MSN, Associate Professor
email: mchiba@nagano-nurs.ac.jp

18Degree Programs
Mental Health Nursing
The area covers studies of nursing care for people withmental problems living in facilities and at home as well as
their family and community members. The examples are studies on the patient's violence to nurses and the communication
skills for improving nurse-patient relationships.
The area also covers the factors related to school avoidance
among high school students.
Mieko ARUGA, Ph.D. in Nursing, Associate Professor
email: aruga@nagano-nurs.ac.jp

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Public Health and Home Care Nursing
The area covers studies on the prevention of illness andhealth promotion of people in the community. The examples
are studies on home-care recipients and their family caregivers and the public health nurses' role in a community healthcrisis.
Kieko YASUDA, Ph.D. in Nursing, Professor
email: kyasuda@nagano-nurs.ac.jp20Degree Programs
Satoyama Nursing and Telecare
The area covers studies on health problems and health promotion of the people living in rural areas focusing on their relationship with "Satoyama" as an integrated social, cultural,and natural environmental entity formed and structured
through history. The examples are studies on the Satoyama
capital, development of Satoyama health resources, and development of a telecare system.
Akio KITAYAMA, Ph.D. in Health Sciences, Professor
email: akitayama@nagano-nurs.ac.jp
Koichiro ZAMMA, D.Sc., Associate Professor
email: zamma@nagano-nurs.ac.jp
Takeshi AKIYAMA, MHSc, Ph.D, Associate Professor
email: takeshiak@nagano-nurs.ac.jp

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International Research Center in Cross-Cultural
and Disaster Nursing (IRC):
International Cooperation and Development
Since the foundation of NCN, we have developed and fostered
the special relationship with international institutions in orderto focus on the international and multi-cultural nursing.
In March 2002, we established “International Research Centerin Cross-Cultural Nursing (IRC)” as its foothold.
In 2016, disaster nursing was newly added to the original activity of IRC, and then, the name was changed into “International Research Center in Cross-Cultural and Disaster Nursing(IRC)”.
Now, we have ﬁve projects:
1. Academic Exchange Project with University of San Francisco and Samuel Merritt University
2. Academic Exchange Project with National University ofSamoa
3. Academic Exchange Project with China (China Medical
University, Yangzhou University, etc.)
4. South-East Asian Countries Exchange Projects (Cambodia,
etc.)
5. Interaction with Pokhara city, Nepal through Komagane
Citizenʼs Association
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MOU with the National Univof Samoa

MOU with Yangzhou Univ

Visit in Pokhara, Nepal

Visitors from Pokhara

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Student Life
April
The entrance ceremony is held in the main hall in the beginning of April with distinguished guests from the prefecturaland local governments, hospitals, care facilities, the community, and other people contributing to students' education.
JuneFirst clinical practicum starts in June, when all the new students get known to each other and ready to work together.
September
Suzukaze-sai is the college festival held in September, when
the breeze begins to become cooler and comfortable. Students
and visitors enjoy various events and activities.

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DecemberStudents organize and enjoy a seasonal party around Christmas time.
February
Some students take a one-week international nursing training
program in Cambodia.
March
The graduation ceremony is held in the main hall around thesecond week of March with invited people who have contributed to studentsʼ education. Many students wear colorful traditional costumes. A collective photo is taken with the symbol
tower in their back and the mountains still covered with snow
in the distance.

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Academic Calendar
Academic Year
April: Entrance ceremony
August: Open Campus
August-September: Summer closure
September: College Festival
October: First entrance examination for
Graduate School
November: Undergraduate entrance examinations for applicants recommended byhigh schools
December-January: Winter closure (2weeks)
January: Second entrance examination for
Graduate School
February-March: Spring closure
February: Undergraduate 1st general entrance examination
March: Graduation ceremony: Undergraduate 2nd general entrance
examination

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Contact Us
Nagano College of Nursing
1694 Akaho, Komagane, Nagano399-4117 JAPANInternational Research Institutein Cross-Cultural and Disaster Nursing
Director : Tomohiko YARA, Ph.D.
E-mail : irc@nagano-nurs.ac.jp

January, 202028

www.nagano-nurs.ac.jp