• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.169-178
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed to compare work-related musculoskeletal symptoms, occupational stress and nursing work environments of nurses working in patient-sitter wards and general wards. Methods: The study surveyed 240 nurses with more than one year of experience working in both patient-sitter wards and general wards. The collected data then was analyzed by SPSS statistics version 22. Results: As for the musculoskeletal symptoms, the survey showed that 85.2% and 67.8% of the nurses had such symptoms respectively in patient-sitter wards and general wards. In terms of occupational stress, no significant difference was observed between the patient-sitter ward and the general ward (t=-0.23, p=.821). Lastly, the study showed that there is a significant difference in terms of work environment considering the scores recorded 2.65 and 2.55 points respectively in patient-sitter ward and general ward (t=2.53, p=.012). Conclusion: Follow-up research should look at ways to lower the rate of experiencing work-related musculoskeletal symptoms; analyze work performances and establish work standards to lower occupational stress; and devise measures to improve the work environment for the nurses working in patient-sitter wards.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.370-379
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• 2013

In an effort to resolve the burden of patients hiring patient sitters, this study sought to review the Ministry-of-Health-and-Welfare-initiated pilot program of running hospitals without patient-sitter to identify its background, operation method, performance results, and limitations. Based on the review, the study derived the necessity of introducing a hospital system without patient-sitter as well as its operation and systemization methods. The ministry-initiated pilot programs were conducted twice: in 2007, and in 2010. A review of the 2007 pilot program revealed that the patients and families' satisfaction score with nursing services was 9.1 points (on a 10-point scale), their intention to reuse the service was 97.8%, and their intention to recommend the service was 98.0%, all high scores. Appropriate nursing manpower, derived from the 2007 pilot project, indicated 2.3 patients per nurse and 4.0 patients per nurse aid. The 2010 pilot project results indicated that the patients and families' satisfaction was high at 8.0-9.1 points (on a 10-point scale), and that the intention to reuse and recommend the service was also high. Compared with the 2007 pilot project, however, the types of medical institutions and the nurse to patient ratios were diverse, offering limitations. In conclusion, to systemize hospitals without patient-sitter, it is necessary to develop policies designed to establish criteria for the appropriate nurse to patient ratio and skill-mix, to standardize the work, to prepare finances for securing nursing staff, to evaluate the nursing demands, and to monitor the quality management.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.317-323
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• 2015

This study examined the effects of the Ministry-of-Health-and-Welfare-initiated comprehensive nursing service on the nursing performance, job satisfaction, and customer orientation among nurses. The participants were nurses working in a running hospital without a patient-sitter in S city (Experimental group=57, Control group=55). The data was collected at 1 and 6 months following a pilot program and analyzed by SPSS using a Chi-squire test, t-test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and ANCOVA. The experimental group showed significantly better nursing performance, job satisfaction, and customer orientation than the control group. This finding can be used to establish the criteria for systematizing comprehensive nursing service.