With COVID-19 still raging across the country, healthcare workers are dedicating themselves to supporting Japan's strained medical institution behind the scene. One of these young medical professionals, Kaede Yasuno, 25, started her nursing career in 2018. After graduating from Kanagawa University of Human Services, Yasuno worked in an intensive care unit for a year and now works in an acute care department in a general hospital in Kanagawa.
1. What influenced you to become a nurse? Biology has been my favorite subject since I was a junior high school student, and I was curious about the structure of the human body. I wanted to do something people would appreciate, so I thought being a nurse might be my dream job since I can explore my interests while doing something meaningful at the same time.
2. What does the acute care department do, and who are the patients? Our department cares for patients who need immediate treatment, medical tests or surgery. Some are taken by ambulance; others are outpatients referred to us in case of emergency.