Introduction: The aims of this study were to clarify the characteristics and examine measures for improving the nursing practice competencies of home health nurses.Methods: A narrative review was conducted to analyze the definitions of key elements that constitute the competencies in nursing practice of home health nurses in Japan.Results: The competencies of home healthcare nurses were based on professional attitudes, knowledge, and skills. The characteristics of these competencies were demonstrated in daily life in the practice of home health care. The following common elements were extracted from more than half of the seven articles reviewed: "support for users and their families with independence and individuality," "utilization of the health care system, social resources, and inter-professional collaboration," "basic professional attitude and demeanor as a home health nurse," and "risk management for disaster and infection." Conclusion: The development of these four elements of nursing practice in the training of home healthcare nurses should be prioritized. To improve the competencies of home healthcare nurses, on-the-job training that focuses on the individuality of users and opportunities for team management should be provided. In the training of newcomers, competencies should be achieved based on their attitude as professionals and risk management skills.

  We looked into the effects of the specified health examination and health guidance, which was enforced in 2008 in place of the fundamental health examination, and found that there were plenty of problems to be addressed. The changes in the standard range of the specified health examination and checkup items seemed to have been received much more unfavorably than anticipated.In the new health scheme as compared with the previous one, the occasion to perform blood tests for anemia and electrocardiography decreased drastically;there was veritably no funduscopy (ophthalmoscopy?); and the chances that the examinees were told to receive medical treatment or to watch yourself carefully were increased by a large margin. Since the objective of the health checkup was changed greatly, emphasis was placed on the detection of metabolic syndrome in the specified health examination. We thought that the hospitals, affiliated with the Aichi Prefectural Federation of Agricultural Coopeatives for Health and Welfare, had to renew their efforts for the maintenance of the health of local residents and the prevention of disease.