Indonesian Nurses’ Journey in Passing the Japan National Nursing Licensure Examination

Abstract

Background

Despite the significant number of Indonesian nurses joining the Japanese National Nursing Licensure Examination (JNNLE), only a few of those were successful. Indonesian nurses as one of active migration player to Japan’s market remain a critical support in supporting human resources for health in Japan. However, the successful nurses’ perspectives have yet to be understood entirely. This study aimed to explore the experiences of Indonesian nurses who successfully passed the JNNLE.

Methods

This study used a descriptive qualitative approach. The participants were twenty Indonesian nurses who have passed the licensure examination. This study was carried out by semi-structured interviews conducted virtually. The data were analyzed using thematic content analysis.

Results

Five themes were discovered in this study: language ability as the key to succeeding in the exam, strategies to passing the exam, supporting resources as factors to increase the passing rate, understanding the nature of nursing exam, and internal motivation to be recognized as a professional nurse in a foreign country.

Conclusion

Indonesian nurses who passed the Japanese national nursing licensure examination tend to deploy planned strategies. Honing the language skills while working and living in Japan is very important, while structured support systems in the hospital, government, and social network are imperative to learning the new knowledge in the area of nursing care in Japan.

Keywords:

• Indonesia
• Japan
• migrant worker
• migration
• nurse licensure examination
• migration policy

Data Sharing Statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available based on request to corresponding author.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

No potential conflicts of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Universitas Airlangga through “Hibah Riset Mandat” grant number 361/UN3.14/PT/2020.