• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.237-249
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the adequacy of current nurse staffing levels by identifying nursing activities and workload. Methods: The study used a mixed-method design. A nursing activity survey was conducted using the work sampling method over 2 working days with 119 general ward nurses. A focus group interview was conducted with 12 nurses. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 and content analysis, respectively. Results: The most amount of time was spent on medication (in direct nursing) and electronic medical record documentation (in indirect nursing). The appropriate nurse-to-patient ratio is 1:7.7 for the day shift, 1:9.0 for the evening shift, and 1:11.9 for the night shift. However, the current nurse-to-patient ratio is 1:9.4, 1:11.0, and 1:13.8 for the day, evening, and night shifts, respectively. Therefore, the current nurse staffing level is insufficient for the workload. In the focus group interview, the main reasons cited for being unable to complete tasks within working hours were communication and coordination, and the nursing electronic medical record. The essential nursing activities of basic nursing and emotional support were overlooked owing to a heavy workload. Therefore, an adequate nurse staffing level should be higher than the measured quantitative workload. Conclusion: These results suggest the general wards of tertiary hospitals should evaluate the adequacy of their current nurse staffing and allocate sufficient nurses to improve patient safety and nursing care quality.

• Korean Journal of Artificial Intelligence
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2021

In this paper, We focused the issue of creating a socially problematic nurse schedule. The nurse schedule should be prepared in consideration of three shifts, appropriate placement of experienced workers, the fairness of work assignment, and legal work standards. Because of the complex structure of the nurse schedule, which must reflect various requirements, in most hospitals, the nurse in charge writes it by hand with a lot of time and effort. This study attempted to automatically create an optimized nurse schedule based on legal labor standards and fairness. We developed an I/O Q-Learning algorithm-based model based on Python and Web Application for automatic nurse schedule. The model was trained to converge to 100 by creating an Fairness Indicator Score(FIS) that considers Labor Standards Act, Work equity, Work preference. Manual nurse schedules and this model are compared with FIS. This model showed a higher work equity index of 13.31 points, work preference index of 1.52 points, and FIS of 16.38 points. This study was able to automatically generate nurse schedule based on reinforcement Learning. In addition, as a result of creating the nurse schedule of E hospital using this model, it was possible to reduce the time required from 88 hours to 3 hours. If additional supplementation of FIS and reinforcement Learning techniques such as DQN, CNN, Monte Carlo Simulation and AlphaZero additionally utilize a more an optimized model can be developed.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.242-250
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• 2022

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the performance following the application of the pilot program for the education nurse system of the Ministry of Health and Welfare in a medical institution. Methods: This study was employed a non-homogeneous comparative group design by comparing new nurses who entered the medical institution after the pilot project from December 2019 to April 2020 with new nurses who entered before the pilot project during the same period. Satisfaction, academic achievement, job adaptation, personal turnover within one year, and patient safety incident rate were investigated as performance indicators. Results: After the pilot project, the overall satisfaction among new nurses, preceptors, and fellow nurses increased, but there were no significant changes in academic achievement and job adaptation in new nurses. The personal turnover rate decreased from 15.6% to 9.1%, and the patient safety incident rate also decreased from 26.3% to 15.7%. Also, the preceptor overtime also decreased from 3.67 to 0.66 hours. Conclusion: The performance of the pilot project for the education nurse system was related to improvements in satisfaction, turnover rate of new nurses, patient safety incident rate, and preceptor overtime. Above all long-term monitoring of each performance indicator is necessary through the continuation of the education nurse system of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.17-27
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• 2017

Objective: This study was performed to find out the characteristics of nurse administrators and the relationships among their personality types, administrative work appropriateness and job satisfaction. Methods: Participants were 112 nurse administrators who had worked for more than 1 year in a hospital administrative position in Seoul and Gyeonggi area. Data were collected form April 14 to Jun 17, 2016, using questionnaires. For the analysis, SPSS WIN 20.0 program was used. Results: Personality types are related to job satisfaction and administrative work appropriateness. Among big-5 personality types, the neurotic level is negatively related to job satisfaction. However, extroversion is positively related. For the appropriateness of administrative work, the way of transfer and working department show no significant relations but age shows significant relation. The influence of age needs further study. Conclusion: The personalty types are related to nurse administratorsʼ job satisfaction and administrative work appropriateness.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.195-212
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• 2011

Objectives: This study investigates the relationship between nurse staffing levels and differences in patient outcomes in terms of average length of stay, in-hospital mortality rate and 30-day death rate in order to evaluate the effectiveness of a policy that differentiates fees for inpatients on the basis of nurse-to-bed ratios. Methods: We obtained information on inpatients from health insurance claims data published by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service(HIRA) in 2008, organizational factors(type of hospital, ownership) from the records of the hospital report system in 2008, and nurse staffing levels, which were graded on a scale of 1 to 7, from data compiled between December 15, 2007, and September 20, 2008. The data were segregated according to type of hospital and quarter and finally 3,517 records of 1,182 hospitals were analyzed using multi-level analysis. Results: The average length of stay in grade 1~6 hospitals was lower than that in grade 7 ones, but the difference was much below one day. No significant difference was found among different grades in tertiary hospitals. Further, variations in staffing levels did not result in any significant difference in the in-hospital mortality rate and 30-day death rate. Conclusions: High nurse staffing levels did not result in better patient outcomes compared with low staffing levels. We therefore recommend modifying the above nurse staffing policy so as to make it more effective in improving patient outcomes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.326-329
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• 2009

When a patient did emergency call, only the name of the patient and a hospital room are shown to nurse's terminal. So, it's so difficult that a nurse looks for the location of the patient. Therefore we have much time about search patient when a patient does emergency call at the other places of their hospital room. This paper proposed optimal repeater's location using SOFM and patient's location estimation using repeater's location information and RSSI database. We performed simulations on searching patient's location using location estimation algorithm.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.479-498
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to examine effect sizes of leadership styles of nursing managers on turnover intention of hospital nurses. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with the PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. Participants were nurses working in hospitals. The intervention involved nursing managers' leadership styles; the outcome assessed was nurses' turnover intention. This was an observational study design. Eleven databases were searched to obtain articles published in Korean or English. Of the 14,428 articles reviewed, 21 were included in systematic review and meta-analysis. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis and R software programs were used. Results: The total effect size r (ESr) was - 0.25 (95% confidence interval: - 0.29 to - 0.20). Effect sizes of each leadership style on turnover intention were as follows: ethical leadership (ESr = - 0.34), transformational leadership (ESr = - 0.28), authentic leadership (ESr = - 0.23), transactional leadership (ESr = - 0.21), and passive avoidant leadership (ESr = 0.13). Ethical leadership was the most effective style in decreasing turnover intention of hospital nurses. Conclusion: Positive leadership styles of nurse managers effectively decrease turnover intention of hospital nurses, and negative leadership styles of nurse managers effectively increase turnover intention of hospital nurses. The ethical leadership style is the most effective in decreasing turnover intention of hospital nurses; however, it requires careful interpretation as its effects are reported by only two studies. This study contributes to addressing the high turnover rate of hospital nurses and developing positive leadership styles of nurse managers in hospital settings.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.179-192
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of a standardized educational program to improve nursing competency on newly graduated nurses in a children's hospital after developing and applying a pediatric nurse education program. The effectiveness of the program was confirmed by evaluating the clinical competency and field adaptation. Methods: In the first step, an education program was developed using the analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation (ADDIE) model. As a second step, a similar experimental study of a single group repeat measures design was conducted to evaluate the clinical competency and field adaptation over time after application of the program. Additionally, a focus group interviews were conducted to collect subjective data on the effects and improvement points of the program. Results: As a result of applying the program, there was a significant change in the clinical competence and the field adaptation of newly graduated nurses in a children's hospital. The categories derived from the focus group interviews were "getting special guidance," "better care," "becoming a nurse at a children's hospital" and "winning together." Conclusion: It was confirmed that the education program enhances the clinical competency of new nurses in children's hospitals. In addition, it provided the necessary data to understand the experiences of new nurses, help them adapt effectively, and establish appropriate interventions.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.381-398
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• 1990

Nursing involves deep human interpersonal relationships between nurses and patients. But in modem Korea, the nurse - patient relationship tends to be ritualistic and mechanestic. Patients usually express the hope that nurses be more tender and kind. Patients expect nurses to express their warmth especially through nonverbal behaviour. This study was conducted to identify patients' preferences for nurse's nonverbal expressions of warmth. Through the confirmation of these preferences, nurses may learn how to enhance their interpersonal relationships with patients. Subjects for the study were 73 patients who had been admitted to a university teaching hospital for at least three days and agreed to be interviewed by the investigator. The interactions were studied nonverbal expressions of warmth during nursing rounds and administration of oral medication. The interview schedule was expecially designed by the investigator to measure the nurse's posture, the distance between the nurse and the patient, the nurse's eye contact, facial expression, hand motion and head nodding. Data analysis included frequencies, percentages and X²-test. The results of this study may be summerized as follows : 1. Patient's preferences for nurse's nonverbal expressions of warmth during nursing rounds. Preferred nurse's posture was sitting(50.7%) or standing(49.3%) opposite the patient. Preferred distance between the nurse and the patient was close to the bed(93.2%), less than 1m. Preferred eye contact was directed to the patient's eyes or their affected part (41.1%). Preferred facial expression was a smile(97.3%). Preferred hand motions were light gestures(41.1%). Patients preferred head nodding which approved their own opinions(69.9%). 2. Patient's preferences for nurse's nonverval expressions of warmth during administration of oral medication. Preferred nurse's posture was standing and waiting to confirm that the medication had been taken(58.9%). Preferred distance from the patient was at arm's length, 0.5-1m(64.4%). Patients preferred direct eye contact(58.9%) and a smile(94.5%). Patients preferred that the nurse put the medicine directly the patient's hand(64.4%). Whether the nurse nodded her head or not was not considered important. 3. The relation of general characteristics and patient's preferences for nurse's nonverbal expressions of warmth during nursing rounds and administration of oral medication. During nursing rounds, the age of subjects(p＝0.010) and the standard of education(p＝0.026) related to the distance between the nurse and the patient. The sick hospital ward related to the eye contact(p＝0.017) and facial expression(p＝0.010). During administration of oral medication, the age of subjects(p＝0.044) and days of hospital treatment (p＝0.043) and the sick hospital ward(p＝0.0004) related to the facial expression. From this study, nurses can learn what kind nonverbal expressions of warmth are preferred by patients during rounds and administration and thus will enhance nurse- patient interpersonal relationships.