About 30% of nurses still report feeling anxious due to ambiguous job scopes, according to a recent survey. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 10 (Korea Bizwire) – Seven months after the South Korean government launched a pilot program to clarify nurses’ responsibilities, about 30% of nurses still report feeling anxious due to ambiguous job scopes, according to a recent survey.
Representative Kang Sun-woo of the Democratic Party of Korea revealed these findings on October 9, based on a survey conducted by the Korean Nurses Association (KNA).
The government initiated the Nurse Task-Related Pilot Program in February in response to a healthcare gap created when many medical residents resigned following a controversial plan to increase medical school admissions.
The program aimed to allow nurses to share some physician duties while providing legal protection and preventing the arbitrary assignment of tasks outside agreed-upon responsibilities.
However, the survey of 650 nurses, including specialized, general, and advanced practice nurses, suggests that the initiative’s implementation has been inconsistent and inadequate.
Of the respondents, 40.5% worked at institutions participating in the pilot program, while 21.7% were at non-participating institutions. Notably, 37.8% were unaware of their institution’s participation status, highlighting communication gaps.
The survey revealed that 65.2% of nurses face difficulties in performing their roles. Among these, about half cited “anxiety due to unclear job responsibilities” as the primary reason.
Respondents expressed concerns about potential liability in cases of patient safety incidents or medical accidents, given the lack of clear job boundaries and proper training systems.
Other challenges reported include limited career advancement opportunities, negative reactions from patients and guardians to nurses performing resident duties, and job insecurity related to potential department changes upon residents’ return.
Furthermore, 64% of participants reported struggling with indiscriminate task assignments. Many nurses complained about performing intern, resident, and nursing duties without clear job descriptions, while others mentioned being overwhelmed by miscellaneous tasks.
The survey also highlighted ongoing issues with overtime work and inadequate break times. About 64.5% of nurses reported working overtime due to excessive workloads and staff shortages, while 71.5% said they were not guaranteed proper break times.
In August, the government and National Assembly passed a nursing law institutionalizing specialized nurses in response to demands for better protection. However, many nurses express concern that the scope of work, to be determined by Ministry of Health and Welfare ordinance, may be too broad and include hazardous tasks.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
