• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.230-237
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• 2011

Purpose: To identify the perception and practices of kangaroo care in nurses and doctors working in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in Korea. Methods: One hundred forty-nine nurses and nineteen doctors working in the NICU from six university hospitals completed a survey questionnaire. Results: Most agreed that Kangaroo care promoted attachment and parental confidence as well as physical health of the infant. However, nurses and doctors showed a negative perception in providing kangaroo care for premature infants under 1,000 grams or within several hours after birth. Major barriers for kangaroo care were worrying about extubation and safety problems of premature infants. Married or senior nurses showed a more positive perception than others. Also nurses who worked in hospitals where kangaroo care was provided had a lower barrier perception than other nurses. Conclusion: Nurses and doctors working in NICU worried about adverse effects of kangaroo care even though they perceived positive effects. Standard education programs and manuals should be developed before dissemination of kangaroo care in Korea.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.57-69
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the job performance efficiency of nurses in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) by using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Additionally, the study aimed to provide a detailed method to improve the currently inefficient way in which nurses perform their jobs by differentiating the reference group of more efficient nurses, and to compare the characteristics of the more efficient group of nurses to those of the less efficient group of nurses. Methodology: This study evaluated the relative job performance efficiency of nurses by applying DEA to 43 nurses in the NICU. The input variables for the efficiency analysis were working career (years), time spent in direct nursing care (hours), overtime (hours), and job-related training (hours); the output variables were the job performance scores of professional practice, research, leadership, and education. Data were analyzed using SPSS IBM 23.0 and Open Source DEA (OSDEA). Findings: The relative job performance efficiency of the 43 nurses was 0.933, and 20 nurses were evaluated as more efficient. In addition, the study confirmed the possibility of improving the overall job performance efficiency by improving leadership, while controlling the current input variables. Lastly, the more efficient nurses had significantly higher job performance scores for research (t=2.028, p=0.049), leadership (t=2.036, p=0.048), and education (t=2995, p=0.005) than those who were less efficient. Practical Implications: It is suggested that job performance be evaluated using DEA to improve the overall job performance efficiency of NICU nurses. The analysis results from DEA for nurses becomes evidence in support of establishing individualized goals for each nurse, thus resulting in a foundation for systematic human resource management of nurses, and ultimately contributing to increase in the job performance efficiency of nurses.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.67-78
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• 2024

Purpose: The present study investigated experiences of traumatic perinatal events, the provision of related education, and educational needs of nurses working in the labor and delivery room (LDR). Methods: Nurses working in the LDRs of six institutions and two nurse portal sites were invited to participate in the survey, delivered on paper or online. The data were collected from October 1 to November 25, 2022. Data from 129 nurses were analyzed using frequency, the chi-square test, the Fisher exact test, the t-test, and analysis of variance. Results: Virtually all participants (98.6%) reported having experienced at least one traumatic perinatal event (dystocia, postpartum hemorrhage, neonatal congenital anomalies, severe maternal or neonatal injury, stillbirth, and maternal or neonatal death) while working in the LDR. The most shocking traumatic perinatal event experienced was the maternal or neonatal death (40.3%), but 24.8% of participants did not recall ever receiving education on the topic. About 63% of participants experienced traumatic perinatal events within a year of working in the LDR. The average score for education needs regarding traumatic perinatal events was 3.67±0.37 out of 4, and participants preferred simulation education as the most effective educational method. Conclusion: Since most of the participants had experienced various traumatic perinatal events in the early stages of working in the LDR and expressed a high level of need for education on traumatic perinatal events, it is necessary to provide more effective stimulation education programs in the early period of work in the LDR.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.131-139
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify factors related to developmental care performance among neonatal intensive care units (NICU) nurses. Methods: The participants were 139 nurses who had provided care to premature infants for more than 6 months and were recruited from the NICU of 8 hospitals. Data were collected from September 1 to December 1, 2017 through questionnaires that encompassed developmental care performance, developmental care perceptions, and the nursing work environment. Results: More than half (51.8%) of the participants responded that they had never received developmental care education, and for 89.6% of those who had received developmental care education, it was a one-time event. The average developmental care performance of NICU nurses was 0.81, with a range of 0.5~1 point. Multiple regression analysis, demonstrated that the nursing work environment (β=.27, p=.001) and developmental care perceptions (β=.23, p=.004) influenced developmental care performance, with a total explanatory power of 14%. Conclusion: Based on these results, developmental care education for the NICU nurses must be provided systematically. In addition, strategies to improve nurses' perceptions of developmental care and to provide appropriate support for the nursing work environment can promote developmental care performance.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.354-367
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was done to verify validity and reliability of a neonatal patient classification system (NeoPCS-1). Methods: An expert group of 8 nurse managers and 40 nurses from 8 Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Korea, verified content validity of the measurement using item level content validity index (I-CVI). The participants were nurses caring for 469 neonates. Data were collected from November 11 to December 14, 2011 and analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, intraclass correlation coefficient, and K-cluster analysis with PASW 18.0 program. Results: Nursing domains and activities included 8 items with 91 activities. I-CVI was above .80 in all areas. Interrater reliability was significant between two raters (r=.95, p<.001). Classification scores for participants according to patient types and nurses' intuition were significantly higher for the following patients; gestational age (${\leq}29$ weeks), body weight (<1,000 gm), and transfer from hospital. Six groups were classified using cluster analysis method based on nursing needs. Patient classification scores were significantly different for the groups. Conclusion: These results show adequate validity and reliability for the NeoPCS-1 based on nursing needs. Study is needed to refine the measurement and develop index scores to estimate number of nurses needed for adequate neonatal care.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.115-126
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was done to identify differences in work environment, work stress, turnover intention and burnout and investigate the relationship among these variables in nurses in Korean Neonatal Intensive Care Units. Method: Participants were 242 nurses working in 13 general hospitals. Burnout was measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), work stress with the instrument by Gu & Kim (1994), and turnover intention with the scale by Kim & Lee (2001). Size of the NICU, nurse to patient ratio, and communication satisfaction were included in work environment. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis with SPSS WIN program. Results: The mean score for work stress in NICU nurses was 3.43 points, for burnout, 2.72 points, and for turnover intention, 4.64 points. Burnout and turnover intention level of participants were moderate-high. Work stress, communication dissatisfaction with physician, and clinical career accounted for 33% of variance in burnout. Significant differences were found between size of NICU and staffing related to environmental characteristics in turnover intention and burnout. Conclusions: Results indicate that effective communication with coworkers and institutional support for appropriate staffing according to number of beds will help to prevent work stress, burnout, and ultimately, nurses' resignations.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.267-276
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was done to develop a performance appraisal tool (PAT) for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) registered nurses (RNs). Methods: The PAT was developed in three steps: 1) a standard of NICU nursing was established; 2) a draft was made; and 3) the PAT was ratified and its reliability and validity were tested. Results: The standard of practice of NICU nursing was predominantly based on role description and responsibilities for nurses. We identified 4 domains of nursing: professional practice, education, research, and leadership. The validity score for each item ranged from 3.93 to 3.27. The PAT consisted of 76 indicators, 49 reflecting components of professional practice, 5 related to responsibility for education, 3 representing research, and 19 relating to leadership. Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ averaged 0.99 for the 76 items. Conclusions: The PAT for NICU RNs that we created was found to be reliable and valid. This PAT would be very useful in evaluating nursing performance and facilitate the professional growth of nurses.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.142-153
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• 2022

Purpose: Preventing missed care is important in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) due to neonates' vulnerabilities. This study examined missed care and its influencing factors among NICU nurses. Methods: Missed care among 120 Korean NICU nurses was measured using a cross-culturally adapted online questionnaire. The frequency of missed care for 32 nursing activities and the significance of 23 reasons for missed care were collected. Results: All participants had missed at least 1 activity, missing on average 19.35 activities during a typical work-day. The most common missed item was "provide developmental care for the baby". The most common reason for missed care was "emergency within the unit or deterioration of one of the assigned patients". The final regression model explained 9.6% of variance in missed care. The average daily number of assigned patients receiving inotropes or sedation over the last month influenced the total number of missed care items. Conclusion: Missed care was affected by nurses' workload related to the number of patients taking medication. Frequently missed activities, especially those related to developmental care, require patience and time, conflicting with safety prioritization and inadequate working conditions. NICU nurses' working conditions should be improved to ensure adequate time for nursing activities.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.70-81
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program on developmental positioning (EPDP) for nurses in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Methods: The study utilized a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Sixty NICU nurses were recruited from two university hospitals in Daejeon, South Korea. The EPDP consisted of a 7-week program: 3 weeks of education and practice, followed by 4 weeks of encouragement messages using social networking services. Developmental positioning (DP) posters and DP aids were also provided during the intervention period. The intervention group (n=30) received the EPDP, but not the control group. The data were analyzed using the 𝜒² test, the Fisher exact test, the independent t-test, and repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: Participants' knowledge (t=7.49, p<.001), attitudes (t=1.99, p=.001), self-efficacy (t=2.99, p=.004), performance of DP (t=2.98, p=.004) and Infant Positioning Assessment Tool (IPAT) scores (F=29.50, p<.001) were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group. Conclusion: The EPDP can be an effective and useful program for improving the performance of DP among NICU nurses by increasing their knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy of DP. However, further research involving various NICU settings is needed to gather more empirical evidence.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2017

Nursing research in the United States (US) spans several decades. Many of the priorities/trends have stayed through the years. Today, the goal of producing evidence to support nursing care interventions coupled with the drive for Magnet Recognition has encouraged academic nurses (faculty) to work with nurse clinicians to form research teams. Interdisciplinary research teams have also formed to address growing concerns over patient safety and quality care. These issues are not just US issues but global ones. This article addresses US trends with the link to global research trends. The role that organizations such as the International Council of Nurses (ICN), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc. (COINN) pay in shaping research agendas and promoting nursing research is highlighted. It emphasizes the key role that nurses, especially nurse leaders/administrators play in changing health outcomes through support of nursing research.