PURPOSE The plan proposed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2012 did not reflect the position of nurses and focused only on how to increase the number of nurses. There is a need for coming up with a specific and viable alternative plan considering the qualitative aspect of nursing, delegation of nursing tasks, the in-death analysis of the reasons for leaving the nursing profession, and the legal standards based on varying nursing tasks. METHODS Drawing on a review of existing literature, this report was written to examine policy directions and the factors that influence the institutional environment that regulates the supply and demand of the nursing workforce in Korea. RESULTS Implementing the government's plan for introducing a new type of nurse, the registered practical nurse, which generally requires a two-year associate's degree, must be reconsidered. Also, a concrete plan to make use of unemployed nurses and to close the salary gap between nurses working at hospitals in cities and those working at hospitals in rural areas must be prepared. Furthermore, there is a need for introducing a new rating system aimed at boosting the quality of nursing care in small-and medium-sized hospitals, thereby increasing the number of nursing professionals who provide high quality care. CONCLUSION In preparation for expected poor quality of care and looming unemployment crisis due to the increase in the number of nursing professionals, a practical and concrete plan for the supply and demand of the nursing workforce should be made. The Korean Nurses Association should mount a profession-wide campaign to make the government formulate a new and viable policy on the supply and demand of the nursing workforce.
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to understand the reported experiences of sexuality among Korean women who are breast cancer survivors. METHODS Participants of this study were 12 women who had breast cancer surgery. Data were collected October, 2010 to January, 2011 through in-depth interviews by using tape-recordings. Data were analyzed with Colaizzi's (1978) phenomenological methodology. RESULTS From significant statements, four categories, ten theme clusters and 32 themes were extracted from the essential meaning of the sexuality experience as reported by the women participants. Within the four categories were 'Negatively changed in sexuality', 'Feeling of great loss as a woman', 'Changed martial relations with husband', and 'Turning to the happy life'. 'Overcoming sexuality caused by distress and feeling of loss' was united from four categories. CONCLUSION The results of this study could help contribute to provide educational program on sexuality to improve sexual well-being and quality of life of women with breast cancer survivors and their spouses.
PURPOSE This study was designed to explore what experiences nurses had while caring and providing emotional support for patients. METHODS Participants were eight nurses working at hospitals for more than one year. Data were collected from June, 2006 to January, 2007 through in-depth interview by using tape-recordings. Data were analysed with the phenomenological method proposed by Colazzi(1978). RESULTS From significant statements, 4 clustered themes, 7 themes and 23 sub-themes were extracted from the essential meaning of the emotional experience of hospital nurses. The 4 clustered themes were 'movement of mind', 'affection and service for patients', 'worthwhile and conflict' and 'control oneself'. The 7 themes were 'special feeling', 'rapport formation', 'consideration', 'human interaction', 'value discovery', 'loss of volition', and 'keep to balance'. CONCLUSION Although nurses had tough experiences for providing care for patients' emotional support, they had also experienced spiritual maturity from its experience. The result of this study would contribute for nurses not only to care for patients who need emotional support but also to develop knowledge in nursing.
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of weight control program on body composition(body mass index and waist-hip ratio), blood pressure, serum lipids(total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein) and self-regulation behavior in obese college women. METHODS Forty seven obese subjects were divided into experimental(22) and control(25) groups. The weight control program lasting 12 weeks consisted of a traffic-light diet, jumping-rope exercises, and behavior modification methods with e-mail counseling. The data were collected from 29 March to 17 September of 2004. The variables were assessed before and after intervention for 12 weeks in two groups. Then, those were repeated after a 12 week suspension of intervention in the experimental group. The data were analysed by the SPSS computer program. RESULTS BMI, HDL, LDL and self-regulation behavior levels showed significant differences between the experimental and control groups. While there were no significant differences in waist-hip ratio, blood pressure, total cholesterol and triglyceride. CONCLUSION The weight control program had a positive effect on obese college women, and can be used to control obesity.
PURPOSE This study was to investigate symptom occurrence related to the disease characteristics of patients with cancer. METHOD A total of 301 patients with cancer participated in this study. The participants were recruited from University Hospitals located in Seoul, Wonju, Kwangju, Daegu, and Pusan. Data collection was performed by using a questionnaire on symptom occurrence. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS computer program that included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, one-way ANOVA, and t-test. 1) Yonsei University (Wonju College of Medicine) 2) Ajou University 3) Home Health-Hospice Research Institute at Yonsei University 4) Research Institute of Nursing Science at Chonnam National University 5) The Institute of Nursing Science at Kyungpook National University 6) Research Institute of Wholistic Nursing Science at Kosin University. RESULT The mean score of fatigue was the highest (3.24), followed by loss of appetite, lack of concentration, change in appearance, pain, insomnia, change in bowel pattern, nausea/ vomiting, coughing, and dyspnea. Most symptoms were significantly correlated with each other. The level of symptom occurrence in patients with lung cancer or cervix cancer was significantly higher than the level in patients with stomach cancer. Patients receiving radiation therapy or a combined therapy of radiation therapy and chemotherapy experienced significantly higher level of symptom occurrence than those receiving chemotherapy only. Also, female patients experienced higher level of symptom occurrence than male patients did. CONCLUSION The sites of cancer, types of treatment, and gender influence the level of symptom occurrence of patients with cancer. Thus, these variables should be considered when assessing and planing for symptom occurrence of patients with cancer.
PURPOSE The concept of embarrassment as an unpleasant emotion is important in caring for those who are in the continuum of illness and health requiring body care and facing sexual problems. In spite of its nursing implication, embarrassment has not been focused in nursing research. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to develope a conceptual analysis of embarrassment. This analysis would help to understand comprehensively an embarrassing situation in which an intimate relationship between nurse and patient regarding body care of the patient could develope. Futhermore, it would be a basis for developing strategies for prevention of embarrassment which could lead for both patient and nurse to emotionally vulnerable situation because of their failure of self-presentation (impression management). METHOD The concept analysis model suggested by Walker and Avant (1988) is used to clarify what is meant by the term 'embarrassment'. RESULT This analysis defines the attributes of embarrassment such as follows. First, embarrassment is often attributed to situational factors interrupting a smooth interaction such as intimacy, confusion, vulnerability, exposure of interaction and characteristics of audience. Second, embarrassment is closely related with cognitive factor such as fear of losing face resulted from a behaviour being out of line. Third, embarrassment is closely associated with dispositional factor such as embarrassability. Fourth, embarrassment is an unpleasant and unwanted emotion arising reactively after an interaction had occurred. Fifth, embarrassment encloses physical, physiological and behavioral aspects such as a variety of unique and easily noticeable reactions and a pattern of verbal and non-verbal behaviour for coping in an embarrassing situation. The antecedents were normally socialized adolescents with normal cognitive ability, concern of losing face, embarrassability, embarrassing events related with situational intimacy, confusion, vulnerability, exposure of interaction and characteristics of audience, physical, behavioral blunders resulting in a failure of impression management. The consequences were an emotional coping behaviour, audience's embarrassment responses, and verbal and non-verbal coping strategies of interactional participants. CONCLUSION It is hoped that this analysis will stimulate further exploration of this concept and study for developing systematic assessment and nursing practice that diminishes embarrassment of interactional participants.
The purpose of this study was to develop an educational program for early detection of breast cancer. The educational program for early detection of breast cancer was developed by literature reviews and survey. Literatures about the early detection of breast cancer, the factors which are influenced on the effects of educational program, and the various techniques of educational program for the early detection of breast cancer were reviewed. The survey was tried to search for the current knowledge about breast cancer and early detection of breast cancer of Korean women using questionnaire developed by investigator. The educational program were as follows ; 1. Objectives of the educational program Upon completion of this educational program, participants will able to ; (1) identify, explain and practices the methods of the early detection breast cancer (2) practices breast self-examination by themselves (3) try to continued the practices for the early detection of breast cancer. 2. Assessment of subjects Assess the participant about the factors which are influenced on the effects of educational program. The factors are age, educational level, marital status, social status, level of knowledge of breast examination, perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, perceived seriousness, motivation, discomfort, and desire for control of health status. 3. Education The exact knowledge about the early detection methods of breast cancer provided such as breast self examination, mammogram, and physical examination by health personnel should be included. For the highest effects of educational program whether group teaching or individual teaching, free discussion and practice are very useful. 4. Evaluation of the effects of education Participant should be evaluated by the objectives after finishing education program. 5. Follow-up care Reinforcement using small booklet which is consisted of checklist and basic information and early detection methods of breast cancer by health personnel should be included.