This thesis explores the actual circumstances of Korean nursing by investigating its present situations. Ultimately, the intent of this study aims to establish a future direction of Korean Nursing. As such, the current conditions of Korean nursing is analyzed in the following categories: education, practice, research, nursing policy, expansion of nursing field, and entrepreneurship. In the final conclusion, an appropriate orientation of the future of Korean nursing is discussed. There are two primary Nursing programs, a three-year(63) and a four-year(53), in Korean Nursing education. Master's programs are available at 32 nursing schools or 32 professional graduate schools. A total of 15 nursing schools have a doctoral program in Korea. The ratio of graduates between the three-year and four year programs is 76:24. Hence, it is highly encouraged to expand four-year nursing programs, because it will help raise the social status of nursing professionals as well as the quality of nursing. In the clinical nursing field, independency and self regulation are critical. As such, organizational change, implementation of a standardized nursing m information system, appropriate workforce, and improvement of the reimbursement system in nursing is recommended. In community nursing, the following should be resolved to provide better nursing services: improvement of working condition and benefits, establishment of a law enforcing the hiring of nurses, and providing continuing education. The number of nursing research has increased and nursing studies are in great quantity. However, research in practices and theories are more in demanded. Hence, research that integrates theories and practices are very significant. Ultimately, it is critical to support nursing studies that will influence nursing policy. The Korean Nurses Association(KNA) is an organization that supervises the nation's nursing policy. The primary focus of KNA is to combine the three and four year undergraduate education systems into 4 years and to establish the Nursing Practice Act. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has adapted a system to educate and certify nurse specialists in 10 nursing areas in 21 nursing graduate schools expecting high-quality nursing services and a decrease of cost. The government also allowed nurses to operate facilities for health management or welfare agencies.

Purpose: This study was to investigate the types and seriousness of pregnancy-related physical and psychological symptoms among pregnant couples. Method: Subjects consisted of 77 pregnant couples at one hospital in Seoul, Korea. The pregnant couples had not been diagnosed with any medical complications. Data were analyzed by the SPSS WIN program. Result: In the degree of physical and psychological symptoms of pregnancy experienced by subjects, the mean score of perceived physical symptoms (2.40, 1.86) was higher than the mean score of psychological symptoms(2.13, 1.83) for both pregnant women and their spouses. In the couple's difference of physical and psychological symptoms of pregnancy experienced by subjects, there were not statistically significant differences in the physical symptoms: "I have hemorrhoids"(t=1.91, p=.06), "My body weight decreased"(t=1.78, p=.08), "I have colds more often"(t=1.77, p=.08), and "I became more active than ordinary times"(t=1.99, p=.05) or in the psychological symptoms: "I am more elated than ordinary times"(t=.83, p=.41), and "I feel inferior"(t=1.62, p=.11). Therefore, these symptoms are coincidental between couples. In the difference of physical and psychological symptoms of pregnancy experienced by subjects according to general characteristics, there were not significant differences. In the relationship between physical and psychological symptoms experienced by subjects, there were statistically significant correlations between subject's physical symptoms and psychological symptoms(r=.54, p<.001; r=.78, p<.001). Conclusion: Physical and psychological symptoms of pregnancy experienced by pregnant couples are an issue for nurses who perform an important role in the care of pregnant women and their spouses.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship among mother-daughter relationship, husband-wife relationship, and prenatal attachment according to pregnant women's internal working model. Method: A convenience sample of 68 pregnant women was recruited from two OBGYN hospitals in M city. Data collection was conducted through the use of an Adult Attachment Interview and questionnaires. This study used a descriptive correlational design and the period of investigation was from July 3-20, 2002. 41 of the 68 women were in a secure pregnant women's internal working model and 27 of the 68 in insecure ones. The data were analyzed by Chi-square test, t-test, and Pearson Correlation Coefficient. Result: The results of this study were as follows: Mean score of the prenatal attachment of the secure pregnant women and mean score of the mother-daughter relationship of the secure pregnant women was significantly higher than that of insecure ones. 3) Prenatal attachment was negatively and significantly related to mother-daughter attachment and husbandwife attachment in the secure pregnant women's internal working model. However it was not significantly relationship in insecure pregnant women's internal working model. Conclusion: It is found in this study that there is an intergenerational attachment relationship during pregnancy. Further findings support the development of creative strategies to enhance positive attachment relationships for pregnant women. It is recommended to develop nursing education of attachment for the insecure pregnant women's internal working model.

Purpose: The study was performed to identify exercise self-efficacy, depression, and stress by the stage of change in exercise behavior in middle aged women. Method: The subjects consisted of 317 women residing in B city by convenience sampling. The collected data was analyzed by the SPSS/WIN program. Result: The subjects were distributed in each stage of exercise behavior change: There were 53 subjects in the pre-contemplation stage, 86 subjects in the contemplation stage, 88 subjects in the preparation stage, 51 subjects in the action stage and 39 subjects in the maintenance stage. Analysis of variance showed that exercise self-efficacy (F=39.9, p<.001), depression (F=5.58, p<.001), and stress (F=6.33, p<.001) were significantly associated with the stages of exercise behavior change. There was a significant negative correlation between the stage of change and depression, and the stage of change and stress, but a significant positive correlation between the stage of change and self- efficacy, depression and stress. Conclusion: This study identified that exercise self-efficacy, depression and stress were significant variables to explain a possible relationship with exercise stages of middle aged women. This study provides new information to influence the development of better health promotion and exercise intervention for middle aged women in the community.

Purpose: This study was to examine health status, reproductive health problems and the degree of prenatal management in working women. Method: The subjects were 902 married working women among 2,000 women selected by cluster sampling. The work area was classified to product factory, school, office, etc. After an Informed consent was obtained, participants were asked to fill out a self-administered questionnaire. The instruments included a questionnaire, parity check list, menstrual problems and gynecologic problem check list. Result: Many women have experienced menstrual cycle change during the past year. There was a significant difference in general health, menstrual regularity, reproductive health and prenatal management by occupation type. 40.6 percent of the subjects have gynecological problems such as menstrual cycle change, perineal inflammation, irregular vaginal bleeding, amenorrhea, ovarian/uterine disease, infertility, or abortion. Prenatal care was received in only 28.5% of the total subjects. In addition, 16.3% answered they had experienced low birth weight babies. Conclusion: We can conclude that working woman have changes in menstruation cycle and in reproductive health status. Therefore, we suggest that some occupational characteristics may affect subject's reproductive health, these should be clear and avoided as much as possible.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of aroma inhalation on fatigue and quality of sleep of postpartum mothers. Method: The study design was a non-equivalent control group pre-post design. 51 Postpartum mothers were assigned either to a control group or to an experimental group that was exposed to aromas through inhalation for 6 days. Subjects in the experimental group were instructed to wear a necklace filled with Lavender and Eucalyptus oil from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM every day. Fatigue was measured using the Rhoten Fatigue Scale. Sleep duration, night arousal frequency and sleep satisfaction were used to assess the quality of sleep. Result: There was a significant difference in the score of fatigue following the treatment between the experimental and control groups (t=-2.79 p=.00). However, there was no significant difference in sleep duration, frequency of night arousal and sleep satisfaction following aroma inhalation between two groups. Conclusion: This intervention appears to be effective in reducing the fatigue in postpartum mothers.

Purposes: This study was to examine the effects of postpartum exercise on pressure of the pelvic muscle contraction, body composition and physical fitness of postpartum mothers. Method: A nonequivalent pre-test, post-test control group study was conducted. Fifty-two postpartum mothers(experimental group, 26; control group, 26) admitted to a postpartum ward in a Busan mother-baby clinic were recruited. Data was analyzed using mean, $x^2$-test, and t-test by SPSS 10.0. Result: Body fat mass(t=-3.196. p= .002), body fat rate (t=-3.831, p= .000), and fat distribution(t=-3.026, p= .004) of body composition increased significantly in the experimental group after the postpartum exercise as compared with the control group. After an 8 week exercise program, the pressure of the pelvic muscle contraction in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control group(t=3.329, p=.002). In the change of physical fitness, grip strength of the hand, back muscle strength, and trunk flexion forward were not significantly changed, but trunk backward extension in the experimental group significantly increased(t=1.950, p=.050). Conclusion: Postpartum exercise affects pelvic muscle contraction, body composition, and physical fitness of the postpartum mother.

Purpose: This study was done to develop a sexual health education program for unmarried mothers that were intended to provide the correct sexual knowledge, to help them establish positive sexual perception and to improve sexual health. The program was applied and its effect was evaluated. Method: One group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental research design was applied to evaluate the effect of a sexual health education program unmarried mothers. The research team developed a 34 hour program of 16 units, where the basic schemes were human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society & culture. We applied the program to 32 unmarried mothers in the Institute for unmarried mothers in Gangwon-do, Korea from April 19, 2004 to June 14, 2004. Result: After the application of an 8 week sexual health education program, the subjects significantly showed a better perception of self-efficiency, self-esteem, sexual knowledge and sexual behavior than before the program. Conclusion: The sexual health education program for unmarried mother in this study was effective on improving sexual perception and promoting sexual health behavior.

Purpose: This study was aimed to investigate direct care stress and job satisfaction in home care nurses. Method: Subjects were 139 home care nurses of hospitals in urban cities. Data was collected by a self report questionnaire. Direct care stress was measured by Community Health Nurses Perceptions of Work-Related Stressors Questionnaire. Job satisfaction was measured by a visual analogue scale. Results: The average score of direct care stress was 60.4. There were significantly high direct care stress in those who had less than that 3 years experience than in their counterparts. The average score of job satisfaction was 79.5. There were significant high job satisfaction in those who willingly chose to work. Direct care stress negatively correlated with the length of office experience of the home care nurse. Conclusion: A direct care educational program should be developed for those who have less than 3 years experience to decrease their stress level.