The Japanese Association of School Health

Original Article

ISSN ONLINE : 1880-2400

[School Health Vol.22, 1-20, 2026]

Examination of the Validity of Attainment Goals for School Nursing Arts at Graduation from Yogo Teacher Education in Japan

Megumi Kagotani*, Nobuko Endo**, Hiromi Sakuma***, Risako Saito****, Yoshiko Tan*****, Mutsumi Matsueda******, Yasuko Mitsumori*******, Mayumi Oshida********, Takashi Asakura*********

  • *Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyorin University
  • megumi-kagotani@ks.kyorin-u.ac.jp
  • **Department of Health and Nutrition, School of Nutrition Sciences, Kagawa Nutrition University
  • ***Center for Liberal Arts Education, SBC Tokyo Medical University
  • ****College of Integrated Human and Social Welfare Studies, Shukutoku University
  • *****Faculty of Nursing and Human Nutrition, Department of Nursing, Yamaguchi Prefectural University
  • ******Faculty of Education, Okayama University
  • *******Faculty of Education, Chiba University
  • ********The United Graduate School of Education, Tokyo Gakugei University
  • *********Department of Global Collaboration in Nursing Research, Shiga University of Medical Science

[Received March 22, 2025; Accepted August 22, 2025]

Keywords:
school nursing, Yogo teacher, nursing art, teacher education

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Abstracts

Background: School nurses are expected to safeguard students’ lives and promote their health. In Japan, similar responsibilities are assumed by Yogo teachers. Unlike school nurses in other countries, Yogo teachers are primarily educators, rather than medical professionals, who are not required to have nursing qualifications. They follow unique practices, applying specialized knowledge and school nursing arts to ensure students’ safety and well-being, address physical and mental health issues, and promote growth and development. However, Yogo teachers face challenges in practicing school nursing arts, particularly first aid. Therefore, the levels of school nursing arts required for Yogo teachers must be defined and their acquisition of necessary skills through appropriate training must be ensured.

Objective: This study clarifies the attainment goals for school nursing arts at graduation from Yogo teacher education.

Methods: In 2021, a nationwide preliminary survey (Study 1) was conducted among Yogo teacher instructors to gather initial insights. Based on these findings, expert meetings and two rounds of modified Delphi surveys (Study 2) were conducted during 2023–2024. The revised goals, encompassing 170 items categorized into four domains, were organized into four proficiency levels: (1) Basic School Nursing Arts, (2) School Nursing Arts to Keep Safety and Comfort of Children, (3) School Nursing Arts of Daily Life Support, and (4) School Nursing Arts of Health Support.

Results: In Study 1, the data of 36 participants were analyzed, and 12 items had agreement rates <80%. In Study 2, expert meetings were conducted to refine items and goals. Subsequent surveys were conducted on 25 and 14 participants in the first and second rounds, respectively. The final set of 170 items achieved agreement rates ≥80% or average scores ≥3.2 (the maximum being 4) by the second round. Items with low agreement rates, such as medication-related tasks, reflected differences in practice between Yogo teachers and school nurses.

Conclusions: The importance of providing medical care in schools is increasing because, during emergencies, certain medications are now being administered by school staff. Typically, Yogo teachers are not expected to perform medical procedures. However, their role in schools may evolve to incorporate changes in children’s health conditions and social needs in the future. This study’s findings support curriculum revision and enhance Yogo teachers’ preparedness to assume their roles. Moreover, educational content and attainment goals must be updated regularly to address future changes in children’s health needs.

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