Hirokazu Ito

Can humanoid nurse robots replace human nurses

Abstract nBackground: The certainty of future technological developments in robotics and artificial intelligence can alter how nursing is practiced today and in the future. In 1992, Peck argued that while advancing

Humanoid Nurse Robots as Caring Entities: A Revolutionary Probability?

The probability that humanoid nurse robots (HNRs) can be caring seems plausible. The question explored by this article is: what are humanoid nurse robots manifesting when they become more functionally advanced and human-like? Its discussion is grounded in several foundational philosophical and theoretical viewpoints such as Plato’s focus on “soul,” Rogers’ emphasis on human energy fields, Boykin and Schoenhofer’s assumption of persons as caring because of their humanness, and the prescriptive or predictive practice of nursing. Imploring logical explanations, the possibility of humanoid robots manifesting caring seems to become more likely. In future developments, to what end will HNRs be functional and able to manifest caring regardless of their human-likeness?

Comparative Examination between the Perceived Inventory of Technological Competency as Caring in Nursing (PITCCN) and the Technological Competency as Caring in Nursing Instrument (TCCNI)

Background: Technological Competency as Caring in Nursing Instrument (TCCNI) was developed by Rozzano Locsin (2013) to determine the expression of “technological competency” as caring in nursing among practicing nurses. While the TCCNI was translated into other languages, no instrument measuring the ‘technological competency as caring in nursing’ among Japanese nurses was developed and tested. Considering culture and social background influencing measurement of the phenomena, Kato et al. (2016) re-envisioned the TCCNI to focus on caring behaviors of nurses in acute care settings. The Perceived Inventory of Technological Competency of Caring in Nursing (PITCCN) was developed. Aim: The aim of this study is to perform comparative examination between the PITCCN and the TCCNI. Methods: The authors developed the Japanese version of the TCCNI from its original instrument subjecting this to reverse translation using a professional English-to-Japanese-to-English translator who clearly confirmed the accuracy of the translations. In this study, the contents of the item configurations were analyzed and discussed regarding instruments, and the summary of the similarities and differences among researchers who had been involved in the research of caring. The difference between the item configuration of PITCCN and TCCNI was clearly illustrated by a comparative table, and in the case where there was no corresponding item, it was left blank. Results: The commonality between the TCCNI and PITCCN was the holistic focus on patients using information obtained through technologies. Different question items were included to provide highquality outcomes for the PITCCN. Conclusion: Considered useful in order to perform high quality practice in using technology, and to provide high quality nursing. Measured Technological Competency as Caring in Nursing might be able to utilizing for in-service education of hospitals or formalized education in nursing universities.

Recognition and Status of Practicing Technological Competency as Caring in Nursing by Nurses in ICU

Aim: The purpose of this study was to survey how nurses who work in Intensive Care Units in Japan, realize and practice nursing based on the theory of Technological Competency of Caring in Nursing (TCCN). Methods: The survey was conducted from September 2016 to November 2016 by questionnaire entitled, “Perceived Inventory of Technological Competency as Caring in Nursing (PITCCN).” It was developed based on Locsin’s middle range theory on Technological Competency as Caring in Nursing. Copies of the Inventory were sent by mail to 426 ICU nurses working in hospitals within Japan. Three hundred eight questionnaire copies without missing values were returned (response rate was 72%). Results: (1) The scores about the practice situations of TCCN were significantly lower than those concerning the recognition of TCCN. Although ICU nurses recognized the need for TCCN, they thought that they had not practiced it enough. (2) In comparing the group having the education about caring and the group without the education, the scores concerning recognition of TCCN was significantly higher in educated group. However, no significant difference was found in the practice situation. (3) In comparing the variables “experience years of clinical nursing,” although this did not have a significant difference in the variable “recognition of TCCN.” However, the scores of the practice situation of TCCN was significantly higher compared between the group with 10 or more years of clinical experience than the group with less than 10 years’ experience. (4) In comparing years of experience, ICU nurses’ the scores concerning recognition of TCCN who had practice experience of 10 or more years was significantly higher than the group having less than fiveyears’ experience. Conclusion: By measuring nurses’ practical situation of TCCN, this focus will be to deliver high quality nursing through continuing professional education.

Characteristics of Psychiatric Hospital Work Environment Found Attractive by Professional Nurse Administrators in Japan

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify characteristics of work environments in psychiatric hospitals which are appealing to nurses. Understanding characteristics of work environments of psychiatric hospital nurses can lead to attracting nurses to work in this environment, thereby increasing human resources and alleviating nurse-staffing problems. Methods: Questionnaire copies focusing on staffing shortages of nurses in psychiatric hospitals were provided to 277 psychiatric hospital nurse administrators in Japan from May-April 2016. Data analyses included descriptive and multivariate statistics. Factor analysis together with the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and the Bartlett’s test of Sphericity were used to assess adaptive validity. Factor loadings were set at 0.4 or more for the configuration of items, while internal consistency and reliability of the assessment data scores were done using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Mean factor points were calculated and students t-test and one-way analysis of variance were performed. Significance probability level was set at 0.001. Results: Factor analysis revealed nine factors: (1) Educational system, (2) Reputation at hospitals, (3) Support system for acquisition of certificate of clinical nurse specialist/certified nurse, (4) Reputation at hospitals as places of employment, (5) Knowledge of nursing philosophy and of culture of working places, (6) Reputation of teaching for students’ clinical practice, (7) Working hours and leave privileges, (8) Salary and other allowances, (9) Support system for license acquisition. Data revealed that nurse administrators who employed new graduate registered nurses found their hospitals attractive points were: educational system, support system to acquire certificate of clinical nurse specialist, reputation of hospital as place of employment, knowledge of nursing philosophy and culture of working places, teaching students clinical practice, and salary and other allowances. Conclusion: Nurse administrators who have no difficulty recruiting nursing staff recognized that their hospital environments were considered appealing based on working hours and leave privileges.

Availability of Thickness Estimation of the Subcutaneous Fat by Using the Near-infrared Ray Measuring Device

Gluteal intramuscular injection requires accurate needle insertion into the specific muscle area for accurate, safe, and efficacious delivery of medication for long-acting anti-psychiatric drugs. With ultrasonography, accurate evaluation of the