臼井, いづみ

松田, 直正

荒木, 暁子

市原, 真穂

奥, 朋子

添田, 百合子

細矢, 美紀

松岡, 真里

ウスイ, イズミ

マツダ, ナオマサ

アラキ, アキコ

イチハラ, マホ

オク, トモコ

ソエダ, ユリコ

ホソヤ, ミキ

マツオカ, マリ

Usui, Izumi

Matsuda, Naomasa

Araki, Akiko

Ichihara, Maho

Oku, Tomoko

Soeda, Yuriko

Hosoya, Miki

Matsuoka, Mari

CNS Candidate

Support Needs

preparing for CNS certification

The purpose of this study was to clarify the support needs of candidates for certification as a certified nurse specialist (CNS). A questionnaire survey was conducted on 197 candidates for CNS. The survey contained items about clinical experience, number of years since graduation, current position, preparations undertaken for CNS certification, working environment at medical facilities, support received for applying for CNS certification, the reason for not preparing for CNS certification, and support required for applying for CNS certification. The following results were obtained. A total of 93 (47.2%) candidates lacked the clinical experience required for CNS certification. Furthermore, 100 (50.8%) candidates stated that they are not preparing for CNS certification. In total, 95.6�andidates who aim to apply in the near future currently work at medical institutions. Significantly more candidates whose responsibilities are hospital-wide and who can perform preparation activities during work hours were preparing for CNS certification than candidates whose responsibilities are mainly within their own ward and who can only perform preparation activities outside of work hours. Most support for CNS certification was from nurse administrators. Many candidates stated "I cannot acquire the required practical experience for personal reasons", and "I would like to prepare to apply after I have more clinical experience" as reasons that they are not preparing for CNS certification.And these reasons have characteristics with number of years since graduation. Support from nurse administrators, including guaranteeing activities leading to application, is very important for candidates who aim to apply in the near future. In addition, support that improves candidate's clinical competence, maintains their motivation and facilitates balance between work and other aspects of life are important for candidates who are not currently preparing for CNS certification.