Kan-Min Kogaku Column #26: What Is the “Medical Care” Expected of Nurses? — How the Recovery Period Following “The Surgery Was a Success” Shapes the Rest of a Patient’s Life —
Under Japan’s Public Health Nurses, Midwives, and Nurses Act, the duties of nurses are defined as including not only “assisting in medical treatment” but also “nursing care.” Some may wonder, “Why does this even include ‘care’?” While it is true that the term “care” can be misleading, the “nursing care” referred to here differs from the general notion of “assistance with daily living” and plays a crucial role in supporting patients’ recovery as a form of specialized nursing practice within the medical field. In particular, providing a sense of security to patients who are anxious can be said to be the essence of this “nursing care.” For example, “sponging”—the act of wiping the body or assisting with bathing to maintain cleanliness—is not limited to that alone. It also involves observing the condition of the skin and joints and incorporates elements of massage techniques to promote blood circulation. Similarly, “feeding assistance” is not merely “caring” for meals; it involves observing swallowing function and identifying the causes of poor appetite from a medical perspective. In this context, oral care—keeping the mouth clean—is extremely important, and many nurses hope that patients will continue to eat orally for as long as possible.
In the NHK morning drama series *The Scent of the Wind*, a British woman who counts Florence Nightingale as her mentor encourages the protagonists—students at a nursing school—to think for themselves about “what nursing is.” From a single wrinkle in the sheets to room ventilation, personal hygiene, and the importance of protecting oneself from infectious diseases, I felt that these are things everyone should know in the coming era.
In medical dramas, we often hear lines like, “The surgery was a success. You’ll be fine now.” However, in reality, it is the patient’s subsequent convalescence that determines the course of their life. The quality of postoperative care has a significant impact on the prognosis. “Early postoperative mobilization” is an important form of rehabilitation designed to promote recovery, but its effectiveness varies greatly depending on how well we can support patients who feel anxious about moving their bodies. Through training, nurses acquire the ability to accurately assess a patient’s condition and respond appropriately. One of the pinnacles of this training is “palliative care.” This involves addressing not only physical pain but also emotional distress—issues that cannot always be resolved with medication alone. It is arguably the area where nurses’ expertise in providing patients with a sense of security is most fully demonstrated.
Much of this nursing expertise is rooted in human emotion and warmth, making it difficult to simply replace with machines. At the same time, as digital transformation (DX) in healthcare advances, it is a fact that nurses are increasingly overwhelmed with computer work, leading to a trend of reduced time spent interacting with patients. We sincerely hope that the members of Project CHANGE will lend their support to creating systems that ensure nurses can spend as much time as possible with their patients.
Kumiko Sato
Director, Seki-Shin-Kai
