• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.176-187
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was a qualitative study done to investigate the experience of role conflict by physician assistant nurses. Methods: The basis for this study was qualitative research using the phenomenological method. Research participants were 10 physician assistant nurses. Data collection methodology was in-depth interviews. The interviews were conducted 1 to 2 times and each interview lasted within the range of 45 minutes to 2 hours. The data collection and analysis were carried out simultaneously and the Colaizzi (1978) methodology was adopted for data analysis. Results: The results showed 46 significant statements, 13 meaningful statements, 7 themes, and 3 clusters of themes. The 3 clusters of themes were: 'Identity conflict', 'Relationship role conflict' and 'Institutional role conflict'. Conclusion: The findings from this study suggest that legal status guarantees have to be prepared in order to resolve the role conflict of physician assistant nurses.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.105-113
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the effects of emotional intelligence and self-leadership on job satisfaction among physician assistant nurses. Methods: The participants were 146 physician assistant nurses working at two university hospitals. Data were collected from August 1-September 31, 2020 and analyzed through t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical regression analysis using SPSS/WIN version 26.0. Results: Factors affecting job satisfaction were self-leadership (β=.30, p=.003), "less than 1 year of experience as a physician assistant nurse" (β=.27, p=.025), and emotional intelligence (β=.25, p=.007), and the explanatory power was 34.4% (F=6.03, p<.001). Conclusion: Our study shows that self-leadership and emotional intelligence play a significant role in the job satisfaction of physician assistant nurses; thus, strengthening these two factors is crucial to improve the nurses' job satisfaction. The results of this study may serve as basic data for the development of strategies to enhance job satisfaction among physician assistant nurses.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.583-595
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• 2014

Hospitals in Korea have been increasingly using physician assistants (PA) as an alternative way of dealing with the shortage of residents. However, some incidents of a Physician's Assistant practicing beyond their legal scope require closer examination of the current PA's roles and functions. This study is a web-based survey designed towards targeting physician assistants in Korea (KPA) who practice delegated tasks under a physician's license. Currently, there are 2,125 KPAs working in 141 general hospitals and medical centers. Data from 704 nurses from who responded to the questionnaire were analyzed with descriptive statistics using the SPSS 12.0 program. Their mean age is 32.5 years with 8-10 years of clinical experiences, with males being more likely to be a PA. Despite of KPAs providing medical services and performing invasive procedures, only 13% of KPAs are licensed APNs (advanced practice nurse). KPAs have a low job satisfaction due to a lack of rewards and the necessity for providing illegal practices, and are experiencing identity confusion. The current KPA system is a transitional product of the change from the hierarchial structure to a more collaborative relationship between the medical and nursing departments. Providing adequate education and training, establishing protocols with legal protection, and developing professional independent scope of care are recommended to deliver safe and efficient medical services.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.131-141
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was to investigate the nationwide operational status of the professional medical support staffs (PMSS) who practice the expanded roles in the hospital setting. Methods: The data were obtained through survey from 36 hospitals with over 500 beds from 25th May to 12th July 2016. Data from 1,666 PMSS were analyzed. Results: Since the job titles varied, we classified them into 5 groups according to their roles; advanced practice nurse, clinical nurse expert, PA (physician assistant), coordinator, and others. There were differences in the operation status of PMSSs depending on the region, nurse staffing grade and number of hospital beds. Qualification criteria varied from hospital to hospital, and almost half of the hospitals didn't have any qualification standards for them. There were differences in age, educational level, clinical careers, rewards, and job satisfaction in 5 groups. Especially PA group had low salary, poorer working conditions, more difficulties in performing their work, and lower job satisfaction than other groups. Most PMSS (99.5%) were using a delegated prescription authority, however only 68.3% had job description and 19.9% had documented delegated role. Conclusion: Adequate training curriculum, documented delegated roles, and the protocols for legal protection and efficient medical services are needed.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.703-713
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• 2016

The intention of this study was to investigate relationship of PA (Physician Assistant) nurses' workplace bullying, burnout and emotional intelligence. Research respondents were 150 PA nurses who are working at 19 different hospitals from 5 cities and provinces and the collected data were analyzed with SPSS 21.0 program. This study discovered that 20.7% of PA nurses had experienced workplace bullying and 54.7% had witnessed workplace bullying. The workplace bullying scored 2.14 (on a 4-point scale), emotional intelligence scored 4.88 (on a 7-point scale), and burnout scored 3.22 (on a 7-point scale). As a result of correlation analysis, as workplace bullying was higher, the level of burnout was greater, while as the emotional intelligence was higher, the level of burnout was lower. Thus, there is a need for improvement plan for bullying in workplace to alleviate PA nurses' burnout and strategy to improve emotional intelligence and develop education and program.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.1493-1499
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• 2005

Background. Adequate staffing is necessary to meet patient care needs and provide safe, quality nursing care. In November 1999, the Korean government implemented a new staffing policy that differentiates nursing fees for inpatients based on nurse-to-bed ratios. The purpose was to prevent hospitals from delegating nursing care to family members of patients or paid caregivers, and ultimately deteriorating the quality of nursing care services. Purpose. To examine nurse staffing levels and related factors including hospital, nursing and medical staff, and financial characteristics. Methods. A cross-sectional design was employed using two administrative databases, Medical Care Institution Database and Medical Claims Data for May 1-31, 2002. Nurse staffing was graded from 1 to 6, based on grading criteria of nurse-to-bed ratios provided by the policy. The study sample consisted of 42 tertiary and 186 general acute care hospitals. Results. None of tertiary or general hospitals gained the highest nurse staffing of Grade 1 (i.e., less than 2 beds per nurse in tertiary hospitals; less than 2.5 beds per nurse in general hospitals). Two thirds of the general hospitals had the lowest staffing of Grade 6 (i.e., 4 or more beds per nurse in tertiary hospitals; 4.5 or more beds per nurse in general hospitals). Tertiary hospitals were better staffed than general hospitals, and private hospitals had higher staffing levels compared to public hospitals. Large-sized general hospitals located in metropolitan areas had higher staffing than other general hospitals. Occupancy rate was positively related to nurse staffing. A negative relationship between nursing assistant and nurse staffing was found in general hospitals. A greater number of physician specialists were associated with better nurse staffing. Conclusions. The staffing policy needs to be evaluated and modified to make it more effective in leading hospitals to increase nurse staffing.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.52-61
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• 2015

Objectives: Because recently hospital had to faced with financial hardship, we have to have more effective hospital management. The purpose of this study was to reduce loss costs of the hospital through the systematic management of medical supplies and increase operational efficiency. Methods: The team was composed of outpatient nursing staff, medical record administrator, nurses in medical insurance, medical computer center, dermatologists for this study. We surveyed for 114 people including outpatient nursing staff, nurse aids, medical assistant, physician assistant. Pre-survey period was 2013.03.11 ~ 03.30(2 weeks), and post-survey period was 2013.09.03 ~ 09.17(2 weeks). Result: We improved this way through the computational improvement, conservation campaigns, inventory management, staff training, replaced by low-cost medical supplies. The finding of this study were as follows: Comparing before and after the activity of outpatient nursing staff's degree of knowledge, performance, economic consciousness, the degree of knowledge, performance was increased, but there was no significant change in economic consciousness. Performance of Married person is higher than the unmarried, In addition, the high-position people were more the degree of knowleage, economic consciousness. After activity, correlation of goods and treatment, examinations is increasing, but statistically there was no mean. Conclusion: This study revealed that knowledge in a short period of activity, but also can improve, perform the same change in behavior is not easy. This one shows the intensive training required to sustained and systematic behavioral changes, such as changes in behavior, perform rituals to help the economy. Expensive medical supplies to replace a similar effect as the cost of materials just to have a lot of cost savings. Therefore, more medical supplies change is necessary to develop alternative treatment and cost cutting.