Nurses engage in large areas of work in the field of disasters. From the time a disaster erupts to recovery, from individuals in all age ranges, to communities, nurses offer health promotion, prevention of diseases, and care to the sick and the disabled. These care practices of nurses at various fields are extended to nursing research and education. However, to respond to bigger and greater problems, it is essential to secure enough number of highly skilled professionals in leadership positions who can assess overall situation with limited information in hand and who can collaborate with professionals in other fields.

It is forecasted that the imminent Nankai Trough (South Sea Trough) earthquake will strike Kochi and will inflict catastrophic damages in not so distant future. Furthermore, it is imperative to establish measures against unpredictable disasters from terrorism and new types of influenza. To do so, it is more than necessary to educate and produce nurses who possess innovative visions and international competency.

To respond to this urgent need for new kinds of nursing leaders, five universities that have been leading in disaster nursing came together under the motto of human security and created an educational program called “Disaster Nursing Global Leader Program.” These five public and private universities are University of Kochi, University of Hyogo, Tokyo Dental and Medical University, Chiba University, and Japan Red Cross College of Nursing.

This program aims to educate disaster nursing leaders who can 1) accurately respond to and provide solutions for current issues in disaster nursing in Japan and around the world, 2) illustrate interdisciplinary and global leadership capacities, and 3) contribute to building healthy society and providing safety, assurance, and independence to others.

Each of the five universities is in the process of educating future-oriented next generation of nursing practitioners, and each graduate program has led Japan’s graduate education in nursing and built up on disaster nursing. This new program is a challenge that our graduate programs are making for the next level of our educational efforts.

The program invites any nurse practitioner who is interested in disaster nursing practice and research. This program will be a great opportunity for anyone who wishes to further his/her career in disaster nursing practice, education, and research in Japan and around the world.

We will be waiting for you.

President of University of Kochi

Sayumi Nojima