A Study on the Nurse in Charge of Education'S Current Status and Legal Status

설명간호사의 현황과 법적 지위에 관한 고찰

Recently several hospitals have established a new nursing position so called, 'the nurse in charge of education (NCE).' The job description of NCE is to give a detail explanation on examination or test introduced to patients or a guide for those who are not familiar to hospital facilities at the out-patients level. The motivation of NCE position is the quality improvement in patient education on the sophisticated procedures or the follow up care for medical purposes to improve their compliances, as well in delivering services for outpatients or visitors in more informative and efficient way. The application of NCEA has been turned out positive and effective in patient satisfaction and unit management. However, special attention is brought to the scope and depth of the contents of education delivered by NCE which might overlap with the duty of physicians by the Medical Act. It is needed to clarify the role and job description of NCE in the context of Medical Act. The engagement of NCE to the Advanced Nursing Practitioner (ANP) is one of the possible solutions for a duty charge on patient education since ANP is a legislatively official position with higher license of RN at master level. Further discussion is needed to elaborate and arrange the details on the scope and content of patent education among health science professionals including RN, ANP and physicians.