Hirosaki University

Graduate School of Health Sciences

Radiation Emergency Medicine
Human ResourcesDevelopment ProjectOverview

The Hirosaki University Graduate School of Health Science has been developing a project called“Advanced Human Resources Development Project for Radiation Emergency Medicine “since 2016.
This project has been running as a continuation of Ministry of Education s special academic
research project, launched in 2008, which consists of four divisions: “Radiation Emergency
Medicine (REM) Education and Training Division,” “Radiological Nursing Education Division,”“Education of Radiation Risk Communication Division,” and “Global Human Resources Development
Division.” Each division has been working on various activities aiming to ensure the following on apermanent basis: the base expansion of human resources who can handle the radiation emergency
medicine and oﬀer guidance of radiation risk communication; the development of more advanced
and practical human resources development program for radiation emergency medicine; and theformation of a hub of cultivating “glocal” human resources for training advanced radiological nursing
specialists, in compliance with the international standards.

Radiation Emergency
Medicine (REM) Education
and Training Division
We oﬀer a short-term educational program topromote the training of current medical
professionals to develop more REM professionals.
The 2-day program, including e-learning
preparation, consists of lectures on the REM
perspective as well as exercises on theways of handling irradiated and/or
contaminated patients.

Radiological Nursing
Education Division

Education of Radiation
Risk Communication
Division

We provide an advanced nursing education
program in radiological nursing, which is a Master slevel program. We have established the“Radiological Nursing Educational SupportCenter,” which oﬀers seminars and advice onradiological nursing for professionals.

We continue the base expansion and improvementof the education of radiation risk communication byoﬀering such services as recurrent education for
specialists and students in the radiation risk
communication ﬁeld, and awarenessactivities for the general public.

Global Human Resources
Development Division

We foster internationalism among instructors
in the Graduate School of Health Sciences andpromote the admission of international students tothe Graduate School by actively promoting
personnel and academic exchanges withinstitutions involved in REM in Japan and aroundthe world. Furthermore, we strengthen
collaborations with neighboring
countries in terms of radiation
emergency medicine.

Contact Information:
Hirosaki University Graduate School of Health Sciences
Radiation Emergency Medicine Human Resources Development Project
http://www.hs.hirosaki-u.ac.jp/˜hibakupj
66-1 Honcho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564 Japan
Tel: +81-172-39-5905 Fax: +81-172-39-5912 E-mail: hh̲hh@hirosaki-u.ac.jp

Graduate School Courses
Introduction to Radiological Health Science Course ･Certiﬁed Nurse Specialist Program in Radiological Nursing
At the Graduate School of Health Sciences, we established a Master s Course Radiological Emergency
Medicine (REM) program in 2010 in order to develop future medical specialists involved in REM. This program
includes such topics as the handling of irradiated and/or contaminated patients, and knowledge and skills
related to contamination countermeasures and decontamination, dosimetry, and special clinical examinations.
It has produced many great individuals with a sophisticated knowledge of radiation emergency medicine.
Furthermore, we established a Doctoral Course REM program and a Master s level Radiological Nursing
Specialist Education in 2015, aiming to develop individuals who can exhibit leadership skills and provide
appropriate medical responses during serious emergencies, such as large-scale radiation disasters. We also
aim to develop individuals who can promote education and research in terms of knowledge related to radiationand crisis-management systems in REM, and who can facilitate collaboration between multiple specialists.

Radiological Health Science Course
Radiological Health Science Course (Master s Course)
Aims of the Program
To cultivate REM specialists and leaders who can prepare forradiation emergency accidents, and to nurture educators/researchers
who can contribute to the development of this ﬁeld of study.
Education Objective
1. To acquire specialized knowledge and skills related to REM.
2. To cultivate the leadership skills required for the practice of REM.
3. To acquire educational and research abilities related to REM.

Radiological Health Science Course (Doctoral Course)
Aims of the Program
To cultivate high-level educators or researchers in radiation emergency medicine, and tonurture individuals who can contribute to the development of this ﬁeld of study.
Education Objective
1. To acquire specialized knowledge and skills related to REM.
2. To cultivate the research methods required for the practice of REM.
For those who complete this program, certiﬁcates will be given: as a “Radiological Health Scientist” in theMasterʼs Course, and as a “Senior Radiological Health Scientist”in the Doctorʼs Course.

Program of Certiﬁed Nurse Specialist in RadiologicalAims of the ProgramThis program aims to develop Radiological Nursing Specialists (RNS) who have specialized
knowledge of and skills in radiation and radiological nursing. Such professionals should not only
be engaged in radiological protection, but also conduct advanced nursing practices for individuals,families, and communities with complicated health issues related to radiation exposure.
Education Objective
1. To utilize their knowledge and skills related to radiation exposure and radiation protection, andthen to perform advanced nursing practice on patients impacted by radiation.
2. To conduct precise clinical assessment and radiation exposure control as low as possible.
3. To educate and advise individuals and communities on radiation and how to protect themselves.
4. To educate and consult with nurses about the knowledge andskills necessary for radiological nursing.
5. To coordinate the educational and medical system needed forradiological nursing.
6. To make decisions eﬀectively on ethical problems related toradiological nursing and to support the solution.
7. To research to contribute to the improvement of academic
knowledge and nursing skills in radiological nursing.
For those who complete this program, a certiﬁcate as a “Radiological Nursing Specialist ” will be given.
This program has been certiﬁed as an educational curriculum of radiological nursing in the Japan Association ofNursing Programs in Universities (February, 2017).
The logo of Program of Certiﬁed Nurse Specialist in Radiological Nursing takes cherry blossoms as its motif.
The petals represent 6 roles of certiﬁed nurse specialists, and the gradation from pink to blue means theprocess of becoming the specialists who study in the city of cherry blossoms, Hirosaki, and blossom into a
Certiﬁed Nurse Specialist in Radiological Nursing.

Radiation Emergency Medicine (REM)
Education and Training Division
Overview
Since 2010, we have been oﬀering a short-term educational program to train current nurses
and radiological technologists in the basic knowledge and techniques of REM. This was
originally oﬀered as a 3-day program; however, since 2013, we have incorporated preparatory
learning through e-learning, and have shortened the course to a 2-day program. This training
course oﬀers lectures to enhance each specialty from the perspective of REM, as well as
exercises on the ways of handling irradiated and/or contaminated patients. We have been
periodically reviewing the program and its systems, based on the student questionnaires, inorder to ensure the program improves and becomes more successful in the future.

REM Training Program〈Educational objectives〉
This program aims to impart required REM knowledge to nurses and radiological
technologists, and to develop medical professionals who can cooperate, respond appropriately,and safely manage medical situations.

〈Programs oﬀered and number ofparticipants recruited〉〈Educational Program〉
Nursing program (2 days)
Radiological technologist program (2 days)

Programs oﬀered
Nursing program
Radiological technologist program

Lectures, hands-on seminars, and exercises areprovided.
Simulation exercises are conducted on the ﬁnal day.
A certiﬁcate of completion is issued to all program
participants.

Number of participants recruited:
Approximately 20 participants across bothprograms.

〈Lectures and drills〉
Lectures are
oﬀered jointly
to theparticipants ofboth programs

Drill :
“How to use asurvey meter”

Drill :
“REM Team
Organization

Drill :
“Handlingradiation-exposed patients”〈Number of Participants〉
2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Nursing program

1515

12714

18

15

Radiological technologist program

3691116419Total

182121

1830

2234

Participants awarded a certiﬁcate

16202118302233〈Features〉

In the e-learning module, the participants gain basic knowledge of radiation and the principles ofREM, putting on and taking oﬀ protective clothing, methods of decontaminating the wound site, etc.
All participants participate in the exercise, “How to decontaminate / How to put on and take oﬀ
protective clothing.” The participants learn to assess and decontaminate contaminated wounds.
We oﬀer lectures related to the present conditions in Fukushima, by inviting lecturers from theFukushima Medical University Education Center for Disaster Medicine.
We have also incorporated a tour of the Radiation Emergency Medicine Facility at Advanced
Critical Care Center, Hirosaki University School of Medicine and Hospital.

Education of Radiation Risk
Communication Division
Overview
First, risk communication refers to achieving mutual understanding of risks through theexchange of information and opinions among individuals or groups. Doing so requires
numerous abilities, including collecting information and identifying risks quickly throughlistening and verbalizing the necessary skills for understanding and conveying information.
Second, what about radiation? Radiation oﬀers a variety of beneﬁts, but it also comes withthe risk of adverse eﬀects. At present, however, no system has been established for training
radiation risk communicators ‒ namely, human resources able to provide support for the risk ofradiation. We aim to promote the continuation and evaluation of the education and practice ofradiation risk communication, and to cultivate human resources for radiation risk
communication.

Education・Evaluation
We provide the following lectures as radiation risk communication education in practice.
Liberal arts
“Understanding Radiation Risk
Communications”（2016〜）

Postgraduate education program“Radiological Nursing”（2015〜）
Workshop and Course for the Teacher
Qualiﬁcation Renewal System“Radiation and Risk Communication”（2015〜）

Undergraduate education program“Nuclear Medicine Technology Ⅲ” (2015〜）“Public Health Nursing, Campus Lab Ⅰ”（2014〜）

Workshop
We held a 2-hour workshop on threeoccasions at A town, Aomori, in 2015.

Cross-departmental teaching subject
Practical Seminar for the Teaching Profession

Development of Educational Program“Experimental Study” of radiation using radiationlaboratory equipment“Card Game” to understand the diversity of recognition“Roleplay study” that uses the family as an example“Research study” to answer questions about radiation
Presentation of risk communication

Practice・Evaluation
We promote activities related to risk communication for people of B-town in Fukushima
where we have established a partnership agreement with Hirosaki University, and we utilize
such opportunities for education.

Health Consultation
Radiation Risk Communication “Discussion
Meeting”“Mental Health Seminar” for restoration
supporters
Health Consultation for public staﬀ

Press release
Presenting the achievements of our activities
at an academic meeting
Reporting our activities on our university
websiteDistributing an electronic newsletter forresidents

Radiological Nursing Education
DivisionOverview
We aim to develop Radiological Nursing Specialists (RNS) by oﬀering a Master s course. We
also provide educational programs, such as radiological nursing seminars, to support radiation
emergency education for current nurses. The “Radiological Nursing Educational Support Center,”founded in 2017, has been running activities aimed at the establishing and developing the ﬁeldof radiological nursing.

Main activities
1. Establishing a support system for radiological nursing education

The division aims to provide education for “Radiological Nursing Specialist” and produce
its graduates, to oﬀer conferences and consultations on radiological nursing for current
nurses and teachers, to support radiological nursing education and other universities
launching education in this ﬁeld, and so forth.

2. Education in Practice for the “Certiﬁed Nurse Specialist Program in Radiological Nursing (Master s course)”

Hirosaki University Graduate School of Health and Sciences established a Master s course,
the “Program of Certiﬁed Nurse Specialist in Radiological Nursing” in 2015. This programcultivates nurses who practice advanced nursing in the ﬁeld of radiological nursing, with asubspecialty in “Nursing for Radiation Emergency Medicine” and “Nursing for Medical Radiation.”<Subspecialty>“Nursing for Radiation Emergency Medicine”
Students who take this program are expected to play a leading role inpreparing for a medical facility founded as a center of radiation
emergency medicine. This program also aims to develop human resources
who can carry out healthcare for residents and radiation risk
communication as a specialist with expert knowledge of radiation
exposure and protection. Furthermore, they are expected to become
individuals who can not only take action in the event of a nuclear hazard,
but also prepare and deal with radiation accidents and nuclear terrorism.
“Nursing for Medical Radiation”
Students who take this program are expected to acquire an expert
knowledge of radiation for the safety and security of radiology patients andtheir families, and the lowering of medical, public, and occupationalradiation exposure. Additionally, this program aims to develop future
nurses who provide high quality nursing care for patients suﬀering somaticeﬀects of radiation and those who feel unsafe about radiation exposure.

Exercise using
patient simulators

Distance learning:
connect to the university
from your work or homefor a real-time lesson

The vision and future activities of the “Certiﬁed Nurse
Specialist Program in Radiological Nursing”“Radiological Nursing” was classed as a ﬁeld of educational curricula for certiﬁed nurse
specialists by the Japan Association of Nursing Programs in Universities in June, 2016. We
launched the Advanced Radiological Nursing Specialist Education Program in 2017, after beingcertiﬁed as a Radiological Nursing Education Program.
We will continue to expand our activities with a view to receiving acknowledgement for“Radiological Nursing” as an educational ﬁeld for Certiﬁed Nurse Specialist by the Japan Nursing
Association.

Seminar for Radiological Nursing
Since 2013, we have held radiological nursing seminars fornurses and nursing teachers, which have been cosponsored withother institutions, such as the Radiological Nursing Society ofJapan and the National Institute of Radiological Sciences. As oneof only a limited number of educational centers for radiologicalnursing, we will continue to provide educational support to peopleconcerned by radiological nursing and its education.

<Subjects of previous seminars>

The 1st Radiological Nursing
Seminar 2016

“Education and vision for pursuing the sophistication and specialization of radiological nursing”“Advanced Practice Nurse & Cancer Clinical Investigation”“Recent evidence for usage of medical radiology, and nursing consultation about radiological examination”“Recent evidence necessary for nursing in radiological diagnosis”“Would you like to learn the basics of radiation? Necessary radiation knowledge for nurses.”Global Human Resources
Development Division
Overview
We foster internationalism among instructors in the Graduate School of Health Sciences
and promote the admission of international students to the Graduate School by actively
promoting personnel and academic exchanges with institutions involved in REM in Japan andaround the world.

Objectives
1. Creating and promoting exchange among younger researchers and students as well as
creating the systems to support such exchange
2. Supporting the development of human resources capable of creating systems forinternational exchange and cooperation
3. Developing an educational program to train human resources in REM, open to overseas
students
4. Accepting exchange students in the REM course and Radiological Nursing Specialist
Education Program

Performance and Plans○Dispatching young researchers to the CELOD training course of the Stockholm University○Hosting the “Educational Symposium on Radiation and Health by young scientists”(ESRAH)○Participating in KIRAMS disaster drills and observation ofKIRAMS○Supporting travel expenses for graduate students toparticipate in international conferences and workshops○Holding a joint workshop with Chiang Mai University on
health science, and inviting staﬀ from the Faculty of
Associated Medical Sciences at Chiang Mai University○Holding a bilateral exchange seminar with the University of
Yaounde I and inviting young researchers from theuniversity○Conducting observation and research at the University ofHawaiiʼs Translational Health Science Simulation○Holding lectures on advanced radiological sciences, andinviting front-line researchers from overseas

Educational lecture at ESRAH2016

Lecture on advanced radiological sciences

REM training with KIRAMS