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Introduction of Students

“Relishing the sense of accomplishment from discovering solutions and exploring them in depth.”
Nursing major in the Graduate School of Nursing (second year)

While working as a nurse at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Gunma Children’s Medical Center, I have been studying in the graduate school by making use of the educational leave of absence system at my workplace. While it can be difficult dealing with schoolwork in addition to work and family, I feel that I am relatively lucky to have such ideal conditions, such as the fact that my workplace and the college are only about 30 minutes away by car, and that my parents can look after my kid.

What made me aspire to go to graduate school was my experience of being involved in training new nurses as a preceptor at my workplace. I taught people what I knew and what I had experienced in great detail to the point of meddlesomeness, but I was never confident over whether I was doing a good job or not. At the time I happened to glance at a pamphlet on the opening of the graduate school at the Gunma Prefectural College of Health Sciences that had been left at the ward. Owing to the fact that I could learn about staff development (in the Nursing Education Field) while continuing to work via the night-based classes, and because of the prospect of receiving assistance since my boss at work had encouraged me to go to graduate school, I decided to take the plunge and do it.

 My daily classes are quite stimulating. The graduate students who have gathered together from various workplaces cover a wide age range, and even when they are asked the same question the responses that come back reflect each of their different opinions and ways of thinking. The teachers also have a wealth of experience both as educators and researchers, and as nurses too. As such, I can bring up things that I have experienced in my work in class without any sense of discomfort and it will provide subject matter for our discussions. When class is over I have a completely refreshed feeling. I think this is because I have become consciously aware of discovering solutions and exploring them in depth on my own, altering my initial attitude of “being taught”.

 If there is anyone who is unsure about going to graduate school, I would definitely recommend that they go ahead and take the first step. Of course, while I think it requires the support from their workplaces and families, all of the other graduate students are studying at the college despite their own individual hardships. Why not try making full use of your limited time and relishing a sense of accomplishment for the sake of your own diligent studies, for your workplace, and moreover for your patients?