title: Japanese experience of evolving nurses' roles in changing social contexts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the evolving roles of Japanese nurses in meeting the goals and concerns of ongoing global sustainable development.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Japanese nurses' roles have evolved as the needs of the country and the communities they served, changed over time. The comprehensive public healthcare services in Japan were provided by the cooperation of hospitals and public health nurses.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The nursing profession is exploring ways to identify and systemize nursing skills and competencies that address global health initiatives for sustainable development goals.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper is based on the summary of a symposium, (part of the 2015 annual meeting of the Japan Association for International Health) with panel members including experts from Japan's Official Development Assistance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The evolving role of nurses in response to national and international needs is illustrated by nursing practices from Japan. Japanese public health nurses have also assisted overseas healthcare plans. In recent catastrophes, Japanese nurses assumed the roles of community health coordinators for restoration and maintenance of public health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Japanese experience shows that nursing professionals are best placed to work with community health issues, high-risk situations and vulnerable communities. Their cooperation can address current social needs and help global communities to transform our world.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses have tremendous potential to make transformative changes in health and bring about the necessary paradigm shift. They must be involved in global sustainable development goals, health policies and disaster risk management. A mutual understanding of global citizen and nurses will help to renew and strengthen their capacities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nursing professionals can contribute effectively to achieve national and global health goals and make transformative changes.
authors.affiliation: Disaster Nursing Global Leadership Program, University of Kochi, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1274-1685
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanbara
authors.affiliation: Services for the Health in Asian and African Regions (SHARE), Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugishita
authors.affiliation: Technical Cooperation Centre, Bureau of International Health Cooperation, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakasa
authors.affiliation: University of Hyogo, Hyogo, Japan.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moriguchi
mesh_terms: D003152:Community Health Nursing; D004190:Disasters; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011637:Public Health Nursing; D012931:Social Environment
keywords: Disaster Nursing; Global Health; Nursing; Public Health Nurses; Social Context; Sustainable Development Goals