Continuing nursing care involves maintaining the continuity of care across the past, present, and future phases of individuals’ recovery journeys. It emphasizes consistently providing quality nursing care and ensuring responsible and uninterrupted support, irrespective of changes in treatment settings or health conditions. The 1969 International Council of Nurses (ICN) Congress in Montreal defined it as “a system in which a person receives nursing care when and where the person needs it, and by the appropriate person.” Given shifts in disease patterns, an aging population, shorter hospital stays, and the prevalence of home care, more individuals are discharged from medical facilities while dealing with illnesses or disabilities. They often continue their lives in welfare facilities or at home. Consequently, the significance of nursing continuity has grown, emphasizing the need to address individual needs based on daily life circumstances through collaboration among various professions.

Continuing nursing care demands a broad knowledge base encompassing disease and symptom management, familiarity with social welfare systems, evidence-based nursing support techniques, and effective communication skills for multidisciplinary collaboration. It is crucial to seamlessly provide consistent and appropriate nursing care, aligning with the evolving needs of individuals at different life stages. This involves employing discharge support strategies in medical institutions and delivering home-visit nursing care during home-based treatment.

• Japan Visiting Nursing Promotion Foundation (Ed.). (2002). Continuous nursing practice guide: Nursing collaboration linking medical institutions and visiting nursing. Chuohoki.
• Kinoshita, Y. (Ed.). (1992). Mind and body care 8: Continuing nursing care and home care. Shuppanken.