Evaluation of the effects of a leader-training program on public health nurse leadership for staff in Japan

Izumi Ueda, Kazuko Saeki, Mariko Kawaharada, Michiyo Hirano, Miyuki Seki, Hisako Izumi

Department of Nursing, Saitama Prefectural University, Koshigaya, Japan.
Department of Nursing, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan.
Faculty of Health Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.

DOI: 10.4236/ojn.2012.23038                

Abstract

This paper is a report of a study of the effects of a leader-training program, focusing on how public health nurse (PHN) leaders manage staff. In Japan, a system of training after graduation or training after acquisition of the PHN license has not been established. At present, PHN leaders are unable to devote as much time as they previously could to in-service education, and this has made it difficult to establish a suitable full-fledged in-service education system. Therefore, it is paramount for PHN leaders to acquire the necessary competence to train staff efficiently and, ultimately, play a more prominent role in the in-service education of novice PHNs. The effecttiveness of this program was evaluated before and after conducting the program over a 1-year period. A total of 145 leaders working for local government agencies in Japan participated in the program, and data from 87 participants were analyzed. Before the training program, Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle activities were less frequent than after the program. Intervention using a leader-training program that combines group and on-the-job training is effective for PHN leaders.

Keywords

PHN Leaders; Leader-Training Program; In-Service Education; Management Practice; Japan

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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