• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.174-184
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• 2009

Purpose: While there exist a good number of studies on Korean nurses who were dispatched to Germany in 1960s and 1970s in sociological or labor economic perspectives, there have been few studies on their experiences from a nursing perspective. The purpose of this study is to recapture their lives and experiences from a nursing point of view. Methods: This paper adopts an Agar's ethnographic approach which is more suitable to investigate personal qualitative experiences of those Korean nurses. The data were collected from group discussion and individual interview, and field observation with 10 dispatched Korean nurses. Results: The experiences of those dispatched nurses to Germany can be summarized into three themes: challenging to life, embracing new life, and giving a meaning to life. Challenging to life involved 'hope and anxiety', and embracing new life was reflected by 'wonderment and envy' and 'loneliness and sorrow'. Lastly, they took pride in their contributions to their mother country and also felt something lacking that they had not been properly evaluated. Conclusion: By rediscovering their lives and experiences from a nursing perspective, this study argues for more future studies to reexamine their impact and contribution to the nursing field in Korea.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.119-129
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the nursing care experience of Korean nurses dispatched to West Germany during 1960~1970s. Methods: Qualitative research using thematic analysis was done. The participants were 13 people who were 60~70 years old. The data were collected by in-depth and focus group interviews from January to June 2016. Results: The nursing experience of Korean nurses dispatched to west Germany were composed of 197 initial codes, 15 sub themes, 4 themes including "Challenging the possibilities", "Wandering in the sea without preparation", "Distinguishing between difference and discrimination", and "Balancing oneself in two chairs". Conclusion: In order for nurses to successfully move to another country, it is needed to educate the language and inform the nursing system and preliminary education on specific nursing activities.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.185-194
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• 2011

Purpose: Global shortages in nursing and strong demand for nursing services provided Korean nurses with more overseas employment opportunities, especially in the developed countries such as the United States and Canada. The purpose of this study was to explore the ageing experiences of the Korean nurses dispatched to Germany in the 1960s and 1970s. Methods: The researcher interviewed 10 Korean nurses living in four cities in Germany. Interviews were performed twice in January and July, 2010, and the data, in the form of field notes and interview transcripts, were analyzed using the Agar's (1980) ethnographic method. Results: The ageing experiences of the participants can be summarized into three theme stages: coming upon old age, reluctantly realizing getting old, and finally accepting being old. The first stage is characterized by 'wiring money to homeland all throughout youth', second 'still feeling like a stranger anywhere', and finally 'burying homeland in heart'. Conclusion: The research findings not only suggest crucial materials for training prospective nurses overseas for their successful settlement, but also shed lights on related problems and solutions with ageing experience in overseas employment.