• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.85-102
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• 2007

Purpose: Knowledge on pathophysiology is important to understand diseases and patient conditions and also in providing advanced nursing care. This study was performed to investigate the present situation, knowledge, and educational need on pathophyiology of advanced practice nurses(APN). Method: Eighty-four APN, who is practicing in hospitals nationwide, were surveyed with structured questionnaires developed by researchers. The questionnaire were composed of 109 items with 4 point scales with the contents of general characteristics, educational experience on pathophyisology, educational need, and knowledge on major and subcategories of pathophysiology. Result: The 77.1% of APN had experience of taking pathophysiology lecture and the lecturer were mainly medical doctors(39.8%) and APN(32.4%). The 61.5% of APN answered that the knowledge on pathophysiology was helpful and 97.6% of APN thought pathphysiologic education is needed in clinical practice. Seven major categories of pathophysiology showed higher scores were water imbalance, heart diseases, hemodynamic disorders, arterial vessel disorders, electrolyte imbalance, diseases of the digestive system, and diseases of the respiratory systems. Educational needs on the major and subcategories of pathphysiology were different by the field of APN and also by the clinical experiences as APN. APN also responded that there is a necessity to change the present curricular more specific to each practice field and more focus on the clinical practice. Conclusion: It was confirmed that educational and clinical need on the pathophysiology is very high and there is urgent need to change current curricular more specific to the field of APN and also clinical practice. This survey will help to identify and clarify the areas of change and to improve the education for the APN.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.217-231
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• 2020

Purpose: To identify the clinical role of Advanced Practice Nurses (APN), and evaluate how other medical personnel perceive their work(difficulty, importance). Methods: A questionnaire survey was performed with 277 health care providers (APN 52, nurses 88, and medical doctors 137 [professors 51, fellows 44, & residents 42]) in a single, tertiary hospital. The questionnaire was categorized into 6 domains (total 40 tasks): 6 tasks on identifying health issues (A); 3 tasks on prescribing and conducting diagnostic tests (D); 18 tasks on disease treatment (T); 4 tasks regarding prescribing medicine (M); 3 tasks regarding medical collaboration (C); 6 tasks regarding patient education (E). The survey measured the frequency, difficulty, and importance of APN's clinical tasks, and evaluated the willingness of authorizing clinical tasks to APN. Results: The most frequent tasks for APN were A domain, lowest were T domain. The scores for perceived job difficulty were lower than those for job importance in all groups. The proportion of willingness to legally delegate clinical practices to APN was higher in A and E domains, but lower in D and T domains. However, professors, who spent the most time with APN, showed a higher willingness to legally delegate clinical practice. The participants favored medical doctors as substitutes for tasks which were not legislated for delegated job performance. Conclusion: In this study identified clinical roles that medical doctors considered possible for legal delegation to APN were identified. The results can be used as evidence for the legalization of the practice of APN.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to provide information on the developmental process and current status of Advanced Practice Nurses (APN) and to suggest ways for activating APN roles in Korea. Methods: We reviewed literatures to explore domestic and international trends related to the roles, practice settings, scope of practice, regulatory policies, and political environment of APN. Results: Interest in the APN role has been gaining ground worldwide. While the roles of APN in the USA, Taiwan and Japan have been changed in terms of legislation and institutional regulations, the role of APN in 12 fields except for APN in home care has not been legislated since qualification was specified in Korean Medical Law. Many problems were found in vitalizing APN roles: absence of legal regulations on the scope of practice or health insurance coverage for APN, increase the number of medical support staffs who are not qualified, and a disagreement regarding the qualification field and practical field. Conclusion: This study presents snapshots and vitalizing strategies of practice, and regulation for APN to develop their unique roles in Korea. The tasks and duties of APN should be identified specifically to fulfill their roles. In terms of national health insurance policy APN's Nursing care should be reimbursed just as nursing care of APN in home care.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.65-73
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• 1997

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.240-253
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was conducted to provide basic data for the systematization of 13 areas related to Advanced Practice Nurses (APN). Methods: The three-phase study was conducted as follows. 1) review of APN system and curriculum, 2) Focus Group Interviews (FGI) with 9 APNs, 6 physicians, and 3 nursing professors on the APN system, 3) analysis of clinical practice of the 13 APN areas, and of the accreditation and certification system for APNs, medical board, and medical subspecialty board. Based on the above data, a systematic plan was drawn. Results: The 13 APN areas could be divided into 7 groups based on a review of the APN system and curriculum for the 13 areas. Analysis based on clinical practice showed that the 13 APN areas could be divided into 4 groups. Two themes and seven categories emerged in FGI. The two themes were 1) 13 APN areas that need to be discussed, 2) improving the curriculum for APN. Considering these themes from FGI and the system of the medical subspecialty board, results could be integrated into 2 groups - clinical area and non-clinical area. Conclusion: The 13 APN areas need to be integrated in order to activate the APN system. For that, further discussions on improvements and a standard curriculum according to legislation related to APN should be carried out.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.39-54
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the nationwide intention to delegate clinical practice of medical specialists in accordance with the enactment of the scope of practice for advanced practice nurses (APNs). Methods: Data were collected from October to December 2021 using Google Surveys. In total, 147 medical specialists from 12 provinces responded to the survey. The survey questionnaire was categorized into four legislative draft duties, according to the scope of practice (a total of 41 tasks): Twenty-nine tasks on treatments, injects, etc., performed under the guidance of a physician and other activities necessary for medical treatment (treatment domain); two tasks on collaboration and coordination; six tasks on education, counseling, and quality improvement; four regarding other necessary tasks. Participants were asked whether they were willing to delegate the tasks to APN. Results: The intention to delegate tasks to APN was higher for non-invasive tasks such as blood sampling (97.3%) or simple dressing (96.6%). Invasive tasks such as endotracheal tube insertion (10.2%), sampling: bone marrow biopsy & aspiration (23.8%) showed low intention to delegate in the treatment domain. Participants who were older, male, and had more work careers with APN, showed a higher intention to delegate tasks. Conclusion: To prevent confusion in the clinical setting, a clear agreement on the scope of APN practice as APN delegated by physicians should be established. Based on this study, legal practices that APN can perform legally should be established.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was conducted to provide fundamental information for a system establishment of advanced practice nursing for gynecological cancer patients (APN-GCP). Method: Data was collected by focus group and individual interviews and analyzed in the framework of the Grounded theory method mapped by Strauss and Corbin (1990). There were 13 subjects in this study (nurses, doctors, patient and her family). Result: We identified 87 concepts, 22 sub-categories, and 10 categories. Categories for role expectation were arrangement of diagnosis and treatment process, giving information of treatment course, support of treatment process, patients' right toward making a decision of treatment, counseling and teaching after discharge from hospital, medical insurance and financial problems, counseling about sexual problems and use of family and community resources. All subjects perceived the necessity of an APN-GCP. An APN-GCP requires over 2$\sim$7 years clinical experience and a master's degree. Services would be performed from initial registration to termination of treatment or death, and accomplished on an outpatient clinic basis. Conclusion: The nursing delivery system and curriculum should be developed for a women's health nurse practitioner including APN-GCP. As a further step, cost-effectiveness and projected estimation of manpower of APN-GCP should be studied in the future.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.48-61
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• 2023

Purpose : This study aimed to identify and describe the leadership experience of advanced practice nurses (APN). Methods : Data were collected through five focus group interviews in 2022 with a total of 24 APNs in groups of 4-6 participants. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results : Nine categories emerged from three main themes. First, "Roles of APN leadership" comprised a trusted clinical expert, a moderator for the entire team, a resource person for nurturing the next generation, and a change agent for improving clinical practice. Second, "Facilitators and barriers to APN leadership" included ambiguity of APN role, support system, and institutional backing. Third, "Strategies for strengthening APN leadership competencies" comprised systematic leadership education and speaking up for APNs. Conclusion : APNs are passionate about their expertise and practice, but lack the legal and organizational authority and support to provide successive leadership. Systematic education including leadership and organizational advocacy will enable APN to provide leadership that benefits patients, institutions, and the wider healthcare system.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.335-346
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify patient satisfaction about nursing care provided by Advanced Practice Nurses (APN) using the La Monica-Oberst Patient Satisfaction Scale (LOPSS). Methods: The investigation was conducted including 263 patients who experienced care provided by 41 APNs at a tertiary hospital in Korea. Patient satisfaction with nursing care was measured using 41-item LOPSS. We analyzed the data using descriptive statistics, independent t-test and one-way ANOVA. Results: Overall patient satisfaction with APN care was high. The LOPSS scores for APNs were 52.26 for good impression, 61.75 for interpersonal support, 81.32 for dissatisfaction and 195.93 for total score. "APNs talk down to me" was a reverse coding item which demonstrated the highest score for patient satisfaction. Among patients' characteristics, age and type of main caregiver were independent factors related to patients's satisfaction. Among APN's characteristics, work experience was significantly related to patients' satisfaction. Conclusion: This study identified patient satisfaction regarding nursing care provided by APNs. High patient satisfaction in APN services demonstrated APNs' contribution to quality improvement in health care services. It is recommended that various outcome research about APN service needs to be performed.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.290-306
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to describe the experiences of health-care providers about advanced practice nurses (APNs) focusing on the perspectives of physicians and APNs in Korea. Methods: Qualitative data were collected with snowball sampling. Six physicians and 13 APNs participated in this study through in-depth interviews or a focus-group interview. Qualitative content analysis was employed. Results: Three themes and seven categories were emerged. Three themes were 1) challenging start and attempts to settle down on unfamiliar system, 2) being positioned as an APN at clinical settings, 3) long journey for social recognition and legal institutionalization of APNs' role. Seven categories were 1) challenges to new area, 2) introduction and conflict of APN system, 3) driving force for stepping toward becoming APNs, 4) dedication and commitment to role development, 5) efforts to prove APNs' competency, 6) approaches to guarantee legal APNs' activities, and 7) filling the gap in health-care service. Conclusion: The findings suggest that health-care providers who have collaborated with APNs are aware of the needs to operate APN system more stably through the legislation of APNs' scope of practices. Further research is needed to provide the evidences of APNs' practice outcomes such as health care quality, patient safety, reduction of medical expenses, etc.