Future Planning and Guidance: Career Aspirations and Advice of Chinese Male Nurses
in Japan for Prospective Work Abroad
Derong Zeng MSN. RN Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan; Bingbing Qi PhD. RN. M. Louise
Fitzpatrick College of Nursing Villanova University; Kyoko Asakura PhD. RN . Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku
University, Japan. Ayae Kinoshita PhD. MD. Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan

BackgroundResults （1）Participants who average 30 years oldJoining a job with a negative mindset

Choosing to work in Japan

Reasons for choosing a nursing career:- Exam scores for admission.
- Originally not interested in nursing.
- Influenced by others' recommendations.
- Selecting with the intent to change majors.

Positive motivations︓- Experience of working abroad.
- Learning Japanese.
- Studying medical care in Japan.
- Relatively high wages.
- Lesser wealth disparity.

Male nurses are extremely rare in China
due to cultural backgrounds influenced
by Confucian thinking.

Negative motivations:This study aims to explore the career planning and adviceof Chinese male nurses working in Japan for future male nursesaspiring to work abroad. The research focuses on their perspectives
on career choices, work experiences, and future planning.
Methods Design: a qualitative and inductive research design.
Sample: convenience and snowball sampling.16 male nurses who
are licensed in Chinese and Japanese nursing licence and had to haveworked in Japan for at least six months were interviewed via Zoom
Data Analysis: Raw data transcribed using NVIVO, themes
generated.
Ethical approval From the Kyoto University Hospital Ethics
Committee (R3261) and obtained oral and written informed consent
from participants.

At first, I was quite satisfied, just thatin my one-sided understanding, thesalary in Japan was at least five times
more than in China. I always believedthat money and this recognition wereconsistent. That's it, giving me moneymeans recognizing me, recognizing
me means satisfaction. (Participant 3)

Theme 3
Professional Satisfaction
and Achievement :Despite facing numerous
challenges, nurses findsatisfaction and a sense ofaccomplishment through patientcare, professional recognition,and personal growth, indicating
the rewarding nature of thenursing profession.

NYears worked in China

30±2.8080.5-2

80.5-1

2>2

14Internal Medicine

4Surgery

2Operating Room

2Emergency

1

Mixed Medicine

1Long term care ward

8- Escaping gender bias in China.

Aims

The recognition from patients, therecognition from leaders. It feels quite
fulfilling, pretty good. (Participant 8)

Participants Characteristics
Mean age (SD+) in years

Derong Zeng et. al. (2023) Why do male nurses choose to work in foreign countries? A qualitative study
on Chinese male nurses working in Japan. Heliyon, e23262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23262
Derong Zeng et. al. (2024) Challenges Faced by Male Nurses Adapting to the Foreign Healthcare
System: A Qualitative Study of Chinese Nurses Working in Japan . Psychologia(In press).

Results (2)and have varying work experiences in China and Japan.
Most have over two years of experience in Japan,
particularly in long-term care.

Years working in Japan

Experienced section in Japan

Expectations, Challenges, andAdaptation :Nurses face a gap between their initialexpectations and the realities of working inJapan, including the hurdles of cultural andprofessional adaptation, highlighting theneed for resilience in cross-cultural settings.

Theme 2

When I was in China, my college entrance
examination score wasn't high. I remember it wasaround 2011, everyone said that the global
situation wasn't good either. I remember that time.
As a nurse to find a job that is definitely
employable. Being a nurse in a big city still has
its employment advantages, and the salary isenough to support oneself, which is quite good.
(Participant 4)

I moved to Japan for higher wages to save money
and return to China, and to explore and widen
my perspectives. (Participant 2)
Japan's service overtime is worse than expected,
challenging the notion of better rights protection.
The difficulty lies in caring for dementia patients,
requiring safety assurance without mutual
understanding. (Participant 13)

Starting a company is one of the current plans. To be moresincere or more professional in this market and tradeaspect, rather than the nursing aspect. (Participant 9)
Future plans, I mainly want to learn more, to understandsome of Japan's medical system. I believe that this medicalsystem will be useful in China in the future. If there comes aday, I still want to return to China. Maybe start a nursing
home or something like that. (Participant 8)

Theme 4Career Development Planning :Nurses' future considerations encompass career
shifts, further education, and decisions about
working domestically or abroad, showcasing astrategic approach to career progression andopenness to various pathways.

Theme 1
Nursing Career Choice andMotivation :The decision to enter the nursing
profession is influenced by a complex
interplay of personal, familial, andeconomic factors, underscoring theintricate balance between internal desires
and external realities.

First of all, before coming here, one must do some research on
Japan's nursing care, on what their job entails. Then, find out
about their salary, and not be deceived by intermediaries, notjust take the intermediaries' word for it, but to do a realinvestigation. The third is, if you can endure, that is, being awayfrom home and separated from your parents for a long time,
being in a foreign land, if you can endure loneliness and solitude,
then you can come. (Participant 10)
First is language, second is workplace culture, and third isprofessional knowledge. These three aspects, I think, are very
important. (Participant 2)

Theme 5Knowledge Transfer and Advice :Practical guidance for prospective overseas
nurses emphasizes the significance of language
acquisition, cultural adjustment, skill
enhancement, and adeptness in communication
and relationships, aiming to facilitate
successful cross-cultural professional
experiences.

Conclusion This study not only offers a comprehensive understanding and practical advice for the career planning of Chinese malenurses working abroad but also provides valuable insights into the international development and talent cultivation of the nursing profession.
By sharing these experiences and recommendations, we aim to facilitate cross-cultural exchanges within the nursing industry, assisting
future nurses working overseas in better preparing and planning their careers.

Financial Disclosure This study was supported by the grants from Kyoto University Interdisciplinary Research Project in the Humanities and Social Sciences, Japan.