Medical Science of Nursing

Message from the Head of the Department

      The Department of Medical Science of Nursing primarily focuses on the basic medical sciences for nursing education. Basic Medical Sciences Courses are theoretical and applied courses given in health sciences, in the first or second year. These courses in nursing help students to relate knowledge to diseases and conditions in clinical practice. Thus, these courses are aimed at increasing the academic success of nursing students and are important in providing safe and practical application in nursing care after graduation.
      The Department specializes in Medical Microbiology for Infection Control, Pharmacology for Nursing, and Medical Genetics.
      The Department offers a graduate program leading to the areas of Microbiology for Infection Control, Clinical Pharmacology for Nursing, and Molecular Genetics and Genomics in Biological / Biomedical Sciences.

Education (Subjects)

1. Medical Microbiology

This course will primarily focus on the concepts of general medical microbiology that are essential to maintaining environments free of contamination, and for protecting both patients and healthcare providers from common infectious diseases. Morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases are of great significance in both developed and developing regions of the world. Furthermore, health care-associated infections represent a serious, yet often preventable, threat to patients safety. Students will learn about the major bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic infections that affect humans, both locally and globally. Basic epidemiological principles and procedures useful in the surveillance and investigation of health-related states or events pertaining to infectious diseases, including immunizations will also be introduced. The relationships among diseases, communities, societies, and culture, including global, will be discussed.

2. Pharmacology

Pharmacology is a discipline that explores the interaction between chemical substances (drugs) and living organisms (including at molecular levels). Students will learn basic knowledge of pharmacodynamics, which focuses on the mechanism of action of drugs in the body, and pharmacokinetics, which discuss the kinetics of drugs in vivo (drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion). In addition, students will learn about the clinical effects, side effects, contraindications, and drug interactions of drugs for major diseases.

3. Genetics

From the first year, students will study a lot of courses that span the fundamental of nursing education. Alongside these courses, students have the option to study genetics, to keep the interests broad. Medical Genetics course is an introduction to the principles of genetics. Students will explore the genetics of pro- and eukaryotes by studying the structure and expression of genes, the mechanisms of gene transmission, genetic exchange, mutations and gene mapping. Additional topics are the genetic basis of diseases, prenatal diagnosis, genetic counselling and gene therapy.

4. Traditional Oriental Medicine and Meridian

As a complementary therapy to modern medicine based on EBM, students will study the role and problems of traditional oriental medicine for holistic medicine. In addition, students will study the outline of meridians and acupuncture points in the human body, and the benefits of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy.

Students Research Interests

  • Environmental Sampling of Hospital Surfaces
  • Assessment of the Bacterial Contamination of Hand Air Dryer in Washrooms
  • Environmental Contamination by Bacteria in Hospital Washrooms
  • Antisepsis Effect on Insertion Site of Central Venous Catheter
  • Effect of Fermented Milk Containing Lactic Acid Bacteria on the Fecal Properties in Female Volunteers with Mild Constipation

Social Activities

  • Training Course for Hand Hygiene and Preventing Transmission of Bugs: Nursing Education Center for Community Collaboration, Dokkyo Medical University
  • Lecture of Clinical Pharmacology in Certified Nurse B-course ( including the Training Program of Specified Medical Acts ):SD center, Dokkyo Medical University

Faculty

Special Appointed Professor   Kohsuke Uchida, MD, PhD
Associate Professor  Ryuichi Fujisawa, D.D.S, PhD

Contact

Department of Medical Science of Nursing
Dokkyo Medical University School of Nursing
Kitakobayashi 880, Mibu, Shimotsuga, Tochigi, 321-0293 Japan