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.

The study identified priorities of the Patient Assessment Data (PAD) using the Japanese Psychiatric Nursing Assessment Classification System (PsyNACS©) derived from 644 psychiatric nurses' responses who were practicing in specific units: Acute Care Units (ACU), General Care Units (GCU), Long-term Care Units (LCU), physically Complicated Disease Care Units (CDCU), and Dementia Care Units (DCU). Secondary analysis of the PsyNACS© on-line survey data using four levels of "importance" was used to determine the priorities: 1) unnecessary; 2) quite important; 3) important and 4) very important. The Mean Factor Points (MFP) and the Welch's ANOVA were calculated. Psy-NACS© score of 3 or higher indicates the PAD as priority. The results showed that in the ACU PAD1, "Psychological symptom", "Stress coping", and "Mood disorder and aggression", and PAD2 "Information of adherence", and "Information of the psychiatry rehabilitation", and PAD7 "Situation of the family and social life", "Relationship to the health care providers", and "Relationships with others" are high priority (high importance). Other PADs showed results below PsyNACS© score of 3. The GCU had PAD 3 "Balance of water", the LCU had PAD 4 "Intention/Point of view", and "Thoughts of the patient" and PAD 7 "Disease and family". The CDCU showed PAD 2 "Blood test", PAD 3 "Excretion situation", and PAD 5 "General health condition", "Respiratory and chest symp-* Corresponding author. H. Ito et al. 219tom", and "Vital signs", and the DCU had PAD 1 "Cognition function", and "Delirium and derangement capacity to register failure", PAD 3 "Function of eating", PAD 6 "Egestion and cleanliness" and PAD 8 "Activity and sleeping", and "Mobility capability". These classifications indicated levels of importance in the CAD comprising the PAD below the score of "2". Japanese psychiatric hospitals specify assessments according to functional areas. By prioritizing the CAD for each PAD, more effective and efficient assessments can be performed according to practice unit.

The purpose of this study was to develop the Japanese Psychiatric Nursing Assessment Classification System (PsyNACS) © . This study used the on-line survey method from February to April 2015. There were 644 respondents comprised of professional nurses with minimum qualification of 3 years' experience being in a psychiatric unit of a stand-alone 200-bed or more Psychiatric Hospital in Japan. Assessment items were derived from 211 specific items selected from nursing textbooks, excluding the North-American-Nursing-Diagnosis-Association (NANDA). The questionnaire contained Cover Letter, Demographic Data Sheet, and the PsyNACS © questionnaire. There were 644 questionnaires accessed but only 435 were completed and valid. Item levels of importance were evaluated: 1) Unnecessary, 2) Not very important, 3) Important and 4) Very important. Data analysis used descriptive and multivariate statistics. Factor analysis (principal factor analysis, varimax rotation), the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) and the Bartlett's test of Sphericity assessed the adaptive validity of the factor analysis. Factor loadings were set at 0.4 or more for the configuration of items. Internal consistency and reliability were established using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Mean factor points were calculated, including standard deviation, range, and confidence interval at 95%. H. Ito et al. 21health assessment, (PAD6) Self-care, (PAD7) Social support, (PAD8) Activity, sleeping and mobility capability, and (PAD9) Sexual function and sexual behavior. The PsyNACS © is a classification of items assessing health care needs within the Japanese psychiatric nursing care environment, and also can be used in various psychiatric patient care situations in all psychiatric units.

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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 student's 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. Characteristics of Psychiatric Research ArticleOpen Access IntroductionToday's global nursing shortage is having an adverse impact on health systems around the world [1]. An insufficient supply of nurses, considered essential personnel, is a critical stressor for hospitals. Many hospitals are struggling with a nurse shortage. May, Bazzoli and Gerland [2] reported that the nurse shortages resulted from a combination of factors; Nurses salary, nurses' work environment, and long-term strategies for nurse education, student nurse and nurse faculty. The relationship between nurses' working conditions, such as high workload, and job dissatisfaction can lead to low morale, absenteeism, turnover, and poor job performance. In addition, prolonged shortages may also cause reduction in patient population, potentially threaten quality patient care, and organizational effectiven...