A STUDY ON KOREA ORIENTAL NURSES' ROLE

한방간호사(韓方看護師)의 역할(役割)에 대한 연구(硏究)

The goal of this study is to review and define the role of nurses' who are engaged in Korea Oriental medical treatments in oriental medical hospitals. We think this study can contribute to the development of 'Korea Oriental medical science & nursing science' and 'Public health care'. A large portion of nurses's role in Korea Oriental Medicine(KOM. 한방/한의학) is assistance to doctors treatment. But besides of these role, we think there are many things that are riskless for nurses to do alone. But in present situation, few nurses in KOM. have enough knowledge to treat these medical treatments alone. So we believe this study will provide a way for nurses to participate more actively in KOM. public health care. With the goal of this study, we checked all medical treatments that have been practiced in oriental medical hospitals, and classified these treatments with some groups. And we organized a inquiry. At this inquiry, we ask 'What is the adequate role of nurses in Korea Oriental medical treatment? & What kind of treatment can nurses do?' We got 58 responses from nationwide 121 hospitals. From these response, more than half of them said nurses can do following medical treatment in the oriental medical hospital: 1. starting and ending part of following treatments; External treatments by instrument, by hydrotheraphy, by herb, by suction, moxibustion, Manipulative therapies on soft structure, Living and mind-body therapies. 2. pulling out Acupuncture. 3. boiling herb, judgement on dosing temperature, assisting in dosing, 4. assisting Diet, 5. operating from Living and mind-body therapies. 6. leading Physical training However, these results are coming out from present situation. So, after well-oriented instructions for nurses, this study will be need to carry out again. From this study, we suggest a desirable curriculum for students who study 'Korea Oriental Nursing Science.' That is to say, at basic course students take 4 subject for 6 credits. And at as an expert course, it should be dividend into Clinical Nursing Specialist in KOM., Self-care Nursing Specialist, Regimen Nursing Specialist and take 17 credits per each course.