• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1-16
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• 2010

As a cross-sectional study, this study was aimed to investigate and compare the job efficiency and satisfaction of nurses according to the hospital grade. Survey was conducted by mail on June 2009, and the respondents were 1,016 nurses working in 15 hospitals which are 9 high-grade general hospitals and 6 general hospitals. The percent of nurses acknowledging their hospital grades is 34.5%, and that is 20.5% at high-grade general hospitals. As the result of review of studies, it is concluded that under the circumstance that differential rates are contracted to calculate fees for hospital services and copayment of patients are according to nursing grades and hospital grades, the degree of nurses' awareness of insurance fees impact on their performance like recording of care and prescription. In order to improve nurses' performance, they need to be educated about the national insurance fee system. In hospitals with higher nursing grade and more beds, the levels of nursing quality and faithfulnes and their job satisfaction were higher. Nurses' awareness of their hospital nursing grade was related to the quality of nursing but not the faithfulness. Nurses working in higher nursing-grade hospital are more self-respect and satisfied at their jobs, and their job efficiencies are not significantly different. The current nursing fees based on the proper number of nurses per beds of nursing units should be changed to be based on the amount of job per nurse by their nursing protocol, and the nurse staffing standard should be differentiated between nursing grades. As the aspect of nursing, 24-hours patient care, it is difficult to improve nurses' job satisfaction, and in the other hand, that tends to depend on their income level. In the current circumstance, comprehensive research is required to investigate the propriety of 25% of the inpatient fees as the nursing management charge.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.95-105
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the difference between direct and indirect nursing activity times according to the grade of nursing management fee. Methods: The subjects of this study were 324 working nurses at the time of 3rd grade and 319 working nurses at the 2nd grade of nursing management fee in one university hospital. Nursing activity time was measured in April and May, and in September and October of 2008 for comparison. The data were analyzed by SPSS win using frequency and t-test. Results: Direct nursing care activity time per one patient was significantly higher at 2nd grade than 3rd grade in day shift (t=-2.55, p=.012). Direct nursing care workload per one nurse was significantly lower at 2nd grade than 3rd grade in evening shift (t=2.21, p=.030), whereas indirect nursing care workload was lower at 2nd level in night shift (t=2.43 p=.016). Conclusion: The findings from this study showed that higher nurse-to-patient ratio can provide greater amount of direct nursing care activity for the patient. Also, it decreased workload of nurses. The higher nurse-to-patient ratio will be beneficial for promoting quality of nursing care as well as decreasing nurse's heavy workload.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.99-109
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was aimed to examine changes of hospital nurse staffing by hospital characteristics during 2008-2010. Methods: The study sample included 44 tertiary hospitals, 226 general hospitals, and 532 non-general hospitals that were operating during 2008-2010. Grade of nursing management fee was categorized from Grade 1(highest) to 6 (lowest) in tertiary hospitals, l or Grade 7 in general hospitals and non-general hospitals based on the nurse-to-bed ratio. For data analysis, ${\chi}^2$ and GEE were conducted. Results: For three years, the number of tertiary hospitals below Grade 2 were increased from 8 to 12, the number of those above Grade 4 were decreased from 15 to 6. The number of general hospitals above Grade 6 decreased from 123 to 86. Tertiary hospitals and general hospitals had more possibilities to improve nurse staffing grade than general hospital (OR 79.69, 95% CI 50.77~125.09, OR 11.25, 95% CI 8.15~15.53, respectively). Greater likelihood of improvement in grade of nursing management fee was found in university hospital or hospitals with 300 or more beds than other types of hospitals. Conclusion: Differentiating nurse staffing system by hospital type and increasing financial incentives according to the grades are needed to improve hospital nurse staffing.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Health Science
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.158-166
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• 2014

Purpose. This study pursued the way for the effective application of the differentiated charge (Nursing grading system) by the nursing manpower which is performed for the nursing service quality improvement to the in-patients in Korea and the minimum employment problem solution of nurses. Methods. For this matter, the status of the nursing grade for 1,452 hospitals (44 high class general hospitals, 259 general hospitals, 265 hospitals, 59 oriental medicine hospitals and 825 recuperation hospitals) was identified which were registered in the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in March 2011 status quo. Results. In the most nursing grade by the kind of medical institutions, 70.5% of the nurses were third-graded in upper general hospitals, 38.1% were sixth graded in general hospitals, 62.7% were seventh-graded in oriental medicine hospitals and 40.4% were first-graded in recuperation hospitals. In the nursing grade by the scale of hospitals (in terms of the number of beds), there was a significant difference in general hospitals, but there was no significant difference between oriental medicine hospitals and recuperation hospitals. In the nursing grade by the location of hospitals and the foundation type of hospitals, there was a significant difference between general hospitals and recuperation hospitals. Conclusion. For the effectiveness of applying differentiated nursing fees by the number of nurses, it seems necessary to consider adjusting the present differentiated inpatient-charge system for the better so that small and medium-sized hospitals may induce more nurses.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.167-175
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• 2008

Purpose: To examine the changes in nurse staffing in hospitals after implementing the policy of differentiating inpatient nursing fees by staffing grades. Method: The study sample included 43 tertiary hospitals, 185 general hospitals, and 282 non-general hospitals that were operating in both 1999 and 2008. Nurse staffing grade was categorized from Grade 1 (highest) to 6 (lowest) in 1999 or Grade 7 in 2008, based on the nurse-to-bed ratio. Results: Tertiary hospitals at Grade 3 and Grade 4 accounted for 49% and 35%, respectively, in 2008, whereas 63% were Grade 6 in 1999. General hospitals at Grade 6 decreased from 87% to 48%. In non-general hospitals, little change was found in the staffing distribution, in that 92% still remained in Grade 6 or 7 in 2008. Forty tertiary hospitals (93%) and 45% of general hospitals improved their staffing grades, while only 7% of non-general hospitals did. Greater likelihood of improvement in staffing grades was found in general hospitals located in metropolitan areas or having 250 or more beds. Conclusion: Elaboration of the financial incentive system is needed to increase the policy impact on staffing improvement.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.285-293
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• 2015

This study was performed in order to provide better quality health care services and satisfaction, the basis for the differential rating system to be operational by identifying how to recognize and respect in hospital operating efficiently and according to the rating differential with convalescent hospital doctors and nursing staff target was. The results of this study are as follows. Rating and doctors as a result of the independent sample t-test to analyze the differences of the nursing grade, second grade doctors were able to see that higher efficiency and improve the patient's rights organization in nursing improving patient safety in two grades, improve care and patient rights this product was confirmed to be enhanced higher. Doctor and as a result of the ANOVA analysis to analyze the differences in accordance with the nursing staff level, improve patient safety, hospital finances, the hospital doctor in the first grade, Nursing grade 2, the right to improve patient education and self-development, and two doctors, nursing grade 1 in was found that high. Overall, doctors, nursing staff of higher grade, first grade and second grade is the difference between me and a different result each category future convalescent hospital doctors and nursing staff of the differential rating system 1, it is necessary to consider restructuring among a calculation based on 2 ratings there will be.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.257-271
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• 2014

Purpose: This methodological study was done to develop a Nursing Competency Measurement Scale based on the clinical ladders of nurses working in wards. Methods: Thirty clinical experts and 501 ward nurses evaluated the content validity of the scale. A survey using the Nursing Competency Measurement Scale was conducted with 114 nurses to evaluate reliability and applicability of the instrument. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 21.0. Results: A review of the literature identified 13 components of nursing competencies and 30 core nursing competencies based on each of the 4 grade clinical ladders. Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ coefficient for the total was .92. Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ reliabilities of each clinical ladder grade were .83 for Grade I, .84 for Grade II, .81 for Grade III, and .84 for Grade IV. The Content Validity Index (CVI) of the scale with 120 individual items was 0.976~1.000 for Grade I scale, 0.986~1.000 for Grade II scale, 0.984~1.000 for Grade III scale, and 0.992~1.000 for Grade IV scale. The expert group nurses' average degree of nursing competence measured using the scale was 3.38~3.75 out of 4.0. Conclusion: Through this process, 120 final questions were confirmed to represent items of the Nursing Competency Measurement Scale based on clinical grade.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.118-127
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was to develop an evidence-based clinical practice protocol of physical restraints by adaptation process for patients with a geriatric hospital. Methods: Protocol adaptation process was conducted in accordance with manual for guideline adaptation version 1.0 by ADAPTE collaboration. Results: The adapted physical restraint protocol was consisted of 3 domains and 37 recommendations. The number of recommendations in each domain were: 7 nursing assessment, 19 nursing intervention, and 11 nursing evaluation. More than half (56.8%) of the recommendations were rated as grade B, 37.8% as grade C, and 5.4% were rated as grade D. Conclusion: The adapted physical restraint protocol is expected to contribute as an evidence-based clinical practice protocol for healthcare workers in geriatric hospitals for reducing and improving efficiency of appropriate physical restraints use.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.122-136
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• 2022

Purpose: This study attempted to recommend a revision of inpatient nursing fees based on analyzing current and appropriate staffing levels. Methods: Staffing grades and their inpatient nursing fees as of the first quarter of 2022 were analyzed. Nurse managers and staff nurses answered surveys about the current and appropriate staffing levels, working days, and monthly salary. A total of 101 nurse managers and 588 staff nurses working in general wards at tertiary hospitals and general hospitals participated in the study. Results: The results showed that grade 1 staffing was found in 73.3% of tertiary hospitals and 63.7% of general hospitals. The current staffing ratios of tertiary hospitals and general hospitals were 1:9.3 and 1:10.4, respectively. The appropriate staffing ratios according to nurse managers and staff nurses at tertiary hospitals were 1:7.6 and 1:7.0, respectively, and 1:8.7 and 1:8.8 in general hospitals, respectively. The average estimated annual working days of staff nurses were 235.2 days in tertiary hospitals and 240.0 days in general hospitals. The median monthly salary for staff nurses was 4.957 million won in tertiary hospitals and 4.140 million won in general hospitals. The new staffing grade system was suggested from 1:6 (Grade 1) to 1:12 (Grade 5). The new inpatient nursing fee schedules were recommended to be paid based on nursing hours per patient day of each grade. Conclusion: The new staffing grade and inpatient nursing fee schedules are expected to increase staffing levels, improve the quality of nursing care, and provide a better work environment for nurses.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2008

Purpose: To examine the current fees for nursing care and propose the strategies for improvement. Method: The number of subjects for this study was 86, including 36 chief executives of the nursing department, 14 of the health insurance department and 33 nursing managers. Data were analyzed by SPSS WIN 12.0 program. A researcher-developed questionnaire with 30 items was utilized. Results: 61% hospital had improved the nursing management fee grade after adoption of the differentiated nursing management fee schedules. After grade improvement, the time for direct nursing care increased. Also, the patient health outcome, nurse's job satisfaction were improved and more nurses were employed in general nursing units. Many subjects addressed that ICU and more nursing units were needed to adopt the differentiated nursing management fee schedules and "bed to nurse ratio" needed to be changed to "patients to nurse ratio" and specialized by the nursing units. Conclusion: The health policy in reference to fees for nursing care needs to get improved further in order to provide the quality-assured nursing care.