title: Taking leave from work: the impact of culture on Japanese female nurses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper provides an overview of nurses' working conditions in Japan, exploring tensions between nurses' rights to take leave from work to fulfil family and personal needs and their actual ability to take such leave. It also considers possible effects of being restricted from taking such leave.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Little has been written on the specific needs of nurses who are mothers in the Japanese work environment. Research has focussed on the effects of heavy, stressful workloads and long working hours leading to burnout, death from overwork and suicides in Japanese culture. However, research that considers unique cultural and female issues in Japan affecting nursing work has not been published.
  
  
  METHODS
  Discursive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The paper shows that there are many overlapping, complex issues affecting nurses working in Japan and their needs need to be considered and addressed in order to promote a healthier work environment, as well as a more humanistic environment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Workplace issues are relevant to recruitment and retention and better conditions are likely to improve hospital functioning.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery and Research Centre for Clinical Practice Innovation, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Queensland, Australia. satomiml63@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Satomi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mizuno-Lewis
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McAllister
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology*; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002322:Career Mobility; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D017407:Family Leave; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D016272:Occupational Health; D010558:Personnel Loyalty; D012945:Social Values / Q000208:ethnology; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology*; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology