A Project-Trained Master Trainer Brings Lessons from Japan into Practice

Ms. Nasrin Nahar, Senior Staff Nurse and Master Trainer (MT) from Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital (ShSMCH), one of the project’s target collaborative hospitals, participated in the JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Program training “Enhancement of Nursing Management towards Universal Health Coverage,” held from January 19 to February 3, 2026.
Ms. Nasrin is one of the MTs developed through the project. At ShSMCH, she has been actively engaged in improving nurses’ competencies and the quality of clinical practice through in-service training and committee activities. Following her return from Japan, the project received the encouraging news that she had already started implementing the action plan she developed during the training, which led the project team to interview her about her experience.

“The hospital visits in Japan were the most impressive part of the training. The systems and management methods were completely different from those in Bangladesh, and everything was eye-opening,” Ms. Nasrin recalled.
What impressed her most was the nursing management system she observed in Japanese hospitals.
“In Bangladesh, there is only one computer in the hospital available for nurses’ administrative work. In Japan, in contrast, necessary information could be accessed from anywhere. I was impressed that staff responsibilities were clearly assigned based not only on position, but also on each individual’s role and competency. In addition, in Bangladesh, nurses often have to manually handle medicine indenting and collecting medicines from the medicine store, which adds a significant workload beyond their regular nursing duties. In Japan, these processes were managed efficiently using computers, which was very impressive to me.”
For Ms. Nasrin, this was also her first experience traveling abroad. In addition to the training itself, staying in Japan and interacting with participants from other countries became a major source of inspiration.

Based on her learning in Japan, Ms. Nasrin developed an action plan with the following three goals:

Soon after returning to Bangladesh, Ms. Nasrin consulted with the Nursing Superintendent and began implementing her plan. At the end of February, she organized discussions among nurses to identify the causes of excessive workload and review task allocation practices.
Drawing on the task management methods she observed in Japanese hospital wards, she also created her own task assignment format, which is currently being introduced in the ward. She plans to collect feedback around September this year and continue improving the initiative.

Ms. Nasrin reflected that her previous experience as an MT greatly helped her implement the action plan.
“The first activity I conducted as an MT was the first Clinical Nurse Teacher (CNT) training at ShSMCH. At that time, it was my first experience both conducting a training and giving a lecture in front of others, so I remember feeling very nervous.”
There is one particular memory that still stays with her.
“During the lecture, I was speaking too fast because I was nervous. The Japanese expert repeatedly told me, ‘Nasrin, speak slowly so participants can understand you!’”
Through these experiences, Ms. Nasrin gradually learned how to facilitate meetings, organize trainings and workshops, and prepare activities step by step. She believes those experiences directly contributed to her ability to implement the current action plan.
“I was able to lead meetings and develop activity plans because of the experience I gained as an MT.”

At ShSMCH, four MTs, including Ms. Nasrin, continue working together to carry out various activities.
“We communicate almost every day and discuss in-service training and other activities for nurses. MT is not an officially established position, so our workload has increased. However, seeing fellow nurses becoming more positive and motivated encourages me greatly.”
She also shared that these activities have contributed to her own personal growth.
“Feeling that I am improving my own abilities is also one of my motivations. I would like to continue these activities for myself and for my fellow nurses.”

Ms. Shahnawaz Parveen, Nursing Superintendent of ShSMCH, who has supported the MT activities, also recognizes the changes taking place in the hospital.
“As Nursing Superintendent, I have continued supporting MTs so they can carry out their activities more effectively within the hospital. The improvement in nurses’ capacity has been remarkable. Most importantly, I have noticed that nurses have become more sincere and motivated in their work.”
In Bangladesh, opportunities for nurses to receive practical skills training after employment remain limited. At the same time, nurses are expected to supervise nursing students despite having few opportunities to systematically learn teaching methods.
In this context, the implementation of CNT training and in-service training by MTs has contributed not only to improving nurses’ competencies, but also to enhancing the working environment, confidence, and sense of responsibility among nurses themselves.

Immediately after returning from Japan, Ms. Nasrin transformed her learning into concrete action in the workplace. Behind these efforts lies the confidence and experience she has steadily built through her activities as an MT.
Ms. Nasrin’s action plan is now entering the full-scale implementation and improvement phase. It is expected that she will continue to play a leading role at ShSMCH, working together with colleagues and hospital management to improve nursing competencies and nursing practice.

See also more on MT’s achievements at ShSMCH:
“Clinical Nurse Teacher Development Training Held at the Clinical Practice Collaborative Hospital”, 11^th July 2024
“After-story of the Clinical Nurse Teacher Development Training -Before and After of the clinical practice at the Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital-“, 31^st October 2024