• 한국간호교육학회지
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• 제2권
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• pp.75-94
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• 1996

This survey study was aimed at identifying the degree of educational need of the KNOU(Korea National Open University) nursing students defined as admission purposes, satisfaction of distance learning education, learning methods, and courses after graduation. Among randomly assigned 1000 students, 320 KNOU nursing students who allowed to participate in the study completed the questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and t-test, Results of this study were as follows : 1. The admission purposes of the KNOU nursing students were 'in order to get a bachelor's degree(83.8%)', 'to acquire knowledge for task(61.3%)', or 'to be admitted for the graduate school (53.1%)' etc. Comparing the admission purposes by age, tow items- 'to explore new possibilities for myself' and 'excellent curriculum' showed statistically significant differences. These two items were also found to show significant differences by marital status. 2. For the media maintenance, the results showed that students use their own cassett radios(96.3%), VTR(49.4%), TV only for the study (44.1%), personal computer (3.31%), or joining Hitel (6.3%). 3. Listening rates of the radio lecture were 'over 80%(9.1%)', '50-80%(9.1%)', '20-50%(18.1%)', 'below 20%(30%)' and 'never(33.1%)', And record lecture showed listening rates as follows : 'over80%(17.2%)', '50-80%(15.9%)', '20-50%(24.4%)', 'below 20%(27,2%)' and 'never(14.4%)'. 4. The difficulties with KNOU life were 'listening radio lectures(38.8%)', studying by following teaching schedules (37.8%)', 'isolated self-study(10.3%)', and 'appearance in the attending classes(8.1%)'. 5. As for satisfaction with teaching methods, the data showed that 81.2% of the respondents were satisfied (or very satisfied) with 'attending classes' and 75%, with 'paper lectures'. On the other hand some of respondents were very dissatisfied with 'recorded lecture(12.8%)' and 'radio lecture(10.9%)' 6. The results also showed that the students want to have 'video conferencing lecture(77.2%)', 'cable TV(64.1%)' and 'CD ROM program' to improve learning effects. 7. Concerning learning attitudes, 48.8% of the students reported 'study mainly for examnination', and only 4.1% answered 'study every day with plan'. The learning attitude showed significant differences by marital status and age. The students also evaluated themelves as 'study very hard(5.9%)', 'study hard in general(41.6%)', 'study a little(40.3%)' and 'study little(11.9%)'. 8. The students responded the most effective learning material was the 'textbook (92.2%)'. 9. For the purposes of using the local center, the results showed 'for the attending classes(76.3%)', 'for the use of references(14.7%)', and 'for the study group(66.7%)'. 10. The results revealed that 20.3% of the respondents had ever experienced unregistration or temporary withdrawal, and 53.4% among them did not register more than one time. The most common reason for the unregistration was 'due to family affairs or their job (70.8%)'. 11. 88.1% of the respondents answered 'they will graduate without fail'. 12. Regarding the benefits from the KNOU graduation, respondents indicated 'graduate school admission(38.1%)', 'self-confidence in social life(17.5%)', and understanding social problems (10.9%)'. 13. 64.4% of the students showed that they have intention to enter the graduate school. The item 'changing work place' showed statistically significant differences by marital status and age.

• 대한간호
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.77-96
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• 1997

The duty shifts of hospital nurses not only affect nurses' physical and mental health but also present various personnel management problems which often result in high turnover rates. In this context a study was carried out from October to November 1995 for a period of two months to find out the status of hospital nurses' duty shift patterns, and preferred duty hours and fixed duty shifts. The study population was 867 RNs working in five general hospitals located in Seoul and its vicinity. The questionnaire developed by the writer was used for data collection. The response rate was 85.9 percent or 745 returns. The SAS program was used for data analysis with the computation of frequencies, percentages and Chi square test. The findings of the study are as follows: 1. General characteristics of the study population: 56 percent of respondents was (25 years group and 76.5 percent were "single": the predominant proportion of respondents was junior nursing college graduates(92.2%) and have less than 5 years nursing experience in hospitals(65.5%). For their future working plan in nursing profession, nearly 50% responded as uncertain The reasons given for their career plan was predominantly 'personal growth and development' rather than financial reasons. 2. The interval for rotations of duty stations was found to be mostly irregular(56.4%) while others reported as weekly(16.1%), monthly(12.9%), and fixed terms(4.6%). 3. The main problems related to duty shifts particularly the evening and night duty nurses reported were "not enough time for the family, " "afraid of security problems after the work when returning home late at night." and "lack of leisure time". "problems in physical and physiological adjustment." "problems in family life." "lack of time for interactions with fellow nurses" etc. 4. The forty percent of respondents reported to have '1-2 times' of duty shift rotations while all others reported that '0 time'. '2-3 times'. 'more than 3 times' etc. which suggest the irregularity in duty shift rotations. 5. The majority(62.8%) of study population found to favor the rotating system of duty stations. The reasons for favoring the rotation system were: the opportunity for "learning new things and personal development." "better human relations are possible. "better understanding in various duty stations." "changes in monotonous routine job" etc. The proportion of those disfavor the rotating 'system was 34.7 percent. giving the reasons of"it impedes development of specialization." "poor job performances." "stress factors" etc. Furthermore. respondents made the following comments in relation to the rotation of duty stations: the nurses should be given the opportunity to participate in the. decision making process: personal interest and aptitudes should be considered: regular intervals for the rotations or it should be planned in advance. etc. 6. For the future career plan. the older. married group with longer nursing experiences appeared to think the nursing as their lifetime career more likely than the younger. single group with shorter nursing experiences ($x^2=61.19.{\;}p=.000;{\;}x^2=41.55.{\;}p=.000$). The reason given for their future career plan regardless of length of future service, was predominantly "personal growth and development" rather than financial reasons. For further analysis, the group those with the shorter career plan appeared to claim "financial reasons" for their future career more readily than the group who consider the nursing job as their lifetime career$(x^2$= 11.73, p=.003) did. This finding suggests the need for careful .considerations in personnel management of nursing administration particularly when dealing with the nurses' career development. The majority of respondents preferred the fixed day shift. However, further analysis of those preferred evening shift by age and civil status, "< 25 years group"(15.1%) and "single group"(13.2) were more likely to favor the fixed evening shift than > 25 years(6.4%) and married(4.8%)groups. This differences were statistically significant ($x^2=14.54, {\;}p=.000;{\;}x^2=8.75, {\;}p=.003$). 7. A great majority of respondents(86.9% or n=647) found to prefer the day shifts. When the four different types of duty shifts(Types A. B. C, D) were presented, 55.0 percent of total respondents preferred the A type or the existing one followed by D type(22.7%). B type(12.4%) and C type(8.2%). 8. When the condition of monetary incentives for the evening(20% of salary) and night shifts(40% of. salary) of the existing duty type was presented. again the day shift appeared to be the most preferred one although the rate was slightly lower(66.4% against 86.9%). In the case of evening shift, with the same incentive, the preference rates for evening and night shifts increased from 11.0 to 22.4 percent and from 0.5 to 3.0 percent respectively. When the age variable was controlled. < 25 yrs group showed higher rates(31.6%. 4.8%) than those of > 25 yrs group(15.5%. 1.3%) respectively preferring the evening and night shifts(p=.000). The civil status also seemed to operate on the preferences of the duty shifts as the single group showed lower rate(69.0%) for day duty against 83. 6% of the married group. and higher rates for evening and night duties(27.2%. 15.1%) respectively against those of the married group(3.8%. 1.8%) while a higher proportion of the married group(83. 6%) preferred the day duties than the single group(69.0%). These differences were found to be statistically all significant(p=.001). 9. The findings on preferences of three different types of fixed duty hours namely, B, C. and D(with additional monetary incentives) are as follows in order of preference: B type(12hrs a day, 3days a wk): day shift(64.1%), evening shift(26.1%). night shift(6.5%) C type(12hrs a day. 4days a wk) : evening shift(49.2%). day shift(32.8%), night shift(11.5%) D type(10hrs a day. 4days a wk): showed the similar trend as B type. The findings of higher preferences on the evening and night duties when the incentives are given. as shown above, suggest the need for the introductions of different patterns of duty hours and incentive measures in order to overcome the difficulties in rostering the nursing duties. However, the interpretation of the above data, particularly the C type, needs cautions as the total number of respondents is very small(n=61). It requires further in-depth study. In conclusion. it seemed to suggest that the patterns of nurses duty hours and shifts in the most hospitals in the country have neither been tried for different duty types nor been flexible. The stereotype rostering system of three shifts and insensitiveness for personal life aspect of nurses seemed to be prevailing. This study seems to support that irregular and frequent rotations of duty shifts may be contributing factors for most nurses' maladjustment problems in physical and mental health. personal and family life which eventually may result in high turnover rates. In order to overcome the increasing problems in personnel management of hospital nurses particularly in rostering of evening and night duty shifts, which may related to eventual high turnover rates, the findings of this study strongly suggest the need for an introduction of new rostering systems including fixed duties and appropriate incentive measures for evenings and nights which the most nurses want to avoid, In considering the nursing care of inpatients is the round-the clock business. the practice of the nursing duty shift system is inevitable. In this context, based on the findings of this study. the following are recommended: 1. The further in-depth studies on duty shifts and hours need to be undertaken for the development of appropriate and effective rostering systems for hospital nurses. 2. An introduction of appropriate incentive measures for evening and night duty shifts along with organizational considerations such as the trials for preferred duty time bands, duty hours, and fixed duty shifts should be considered if good quality of care for the patients be maintained for the round the clock. This may require an initiation of systematic research and development activities in the field of hospital nursing administration as a part of permanent system in the hospital. 3. Planned and regular intervals, orientation and training, and professional and personal growth should be considered for the rotation of different duty stations or units. 4. In considering the higher degree of preferences in the duty type of "10hours a day, 4days a week" shown in this study, it would be worthwhile to undertake the R&D type studies in large hospital settings.