Challenges and Prospects of KOREAN NURSING

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to provide useful information for developing the policy for securing nursing work force in a desirable direction based on the understanding of the present situation and structure related to securing the nursing work force in Korean hospitals. In order to efficiently plan nursing work force and draft policy, data analysis and decision making based on objective data and systematic information collection are required. First, the structure of policies to secure nursing work force should be clarified and evaluated. The level of nurse workforce should be considered on the extension line of the supply and demand status of other medical personnel such as doctors. Therefore, the core data on the demand and supply status of the whole healthcare workforce at the regional and national level, data of the nurses' market economic situation, data demonstrating the effectiveness of nurses should be regularly updated and managed to be used as a rational decision-making material. Second, the policy of simply increasing the numbers of nursing college admissions and establishing nursing jobs is not a fundamental solution. Improvement efforts are needed, such as setting minimum standards for arranging nurses, legalizing nursing staff placement standards and linking with health insurance fee, improving quality of education such as curriculum, creating environment and culture that nurses do not leave jobs, supporting for working place-home compatibility, increasing assignment life of nursing work force such as improving working condition of nursing work force and securing a stable supply condition by securing career nurses. Third, it is necessary to revise and supplement the differential of nursing care fees. The rating scale for nurse grades which affects shortage of nurses, should be changed from the number of beds per one nurse to the number of patients. The continuing claim of nurses and hospitals regarding the nursing management fee differential is that the added level of nursing care fees is low. It is also necessary to consider resetting the level of nursing care fees by reevaluating the admission fee including the nursing care fee. Fourth, we should shift attention from the aspect of expanding supply of nurses to the aspect of retention. With the expansion of supply of new nurses, consistent supply rationalization policy was not effective and produced idle nurses. We should seek ways for nursing staffs to work for a long time without leaving the medical institution. In order to achieve the results, we should collect various cases in working hours and working forms of nurses in various working forms, such as short-time work system, flex time system, staggered office hours, telecommuting, intensive working time system, shift system of various patterns, and implement policies according to the hospital situation. Fifth, it is required to seek ways to prevent nursing staffs from concentrating on Seoul and the metropolitan area. We should consider introducing monetary incentives to encourage employment in affiliated local hospital.