Open Access, Peer-reviewed
eISSN 2288-338X
    Korean J Adult Nurs. 2013 Dec;25(6):701-711. Korean.
    Published online Dec 31, 2013.
    https://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2012.24.6.701
    © 2013 Korean Society of Adult Nursing
    Original Article

    Current Situation and the Forecast of the Supply and Demand of the Nursing Workforce in Korea

    Boon Han Kim,1 Bok Yae Chung,2 Jin Kyung Kim,3 Ae-young Lee,4 Seon Young Hwang,1 Joon Ah Cho,1 and Jung A Kim1
      • 1College of Nursing, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
      • 2College of Nursing, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
      • 3Department of Nursing, Gangneung Yeongdong College, Gangneung, Korea.
      • 4College of Nursing, Sungshin Women's University, Seoul, Korea.
    • Corresponding author: Kim, Jung A. College of Nursing, Hanyang University, 17 Haengdang-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 133-791, Korea. Tel: +82-2-2220-0799, Fax: +82-2-2297-8613, Email: joyhippo@hanyang.ac.kr
    Received December 16, 2013; Revised December 21, 2013; Accepted December 23, 2013.

    Abstract

    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.

    Keywords
    Nurses; Health policy; Health resources; Staff development; Review

    Figures

    Figure 1
    Ratio of nurses to nursing assistants by different types of medical facilities.

    Figure 2
    The salary of new nurses by different types of medical facilities, by regions and by nursing rating.

    Tables

    Table 1
    Proposed Changes to the Nursing Workforce Structure

    Table 2
    Changes in the Composition of the Nursing Workforce by Different Types of Medical Facilities from 2003 to 2011

    Table 3
    Rate of Increase in Hospital Beds by Different Types of Medical Facilities from 2000 to 2010

    Table 4
    Change of Number of Registered Nurses and Employment Rate

    Table 5
    Nurses' Turnover Rate by the Type and Number of Hospital Beds

    Table 6
    Point of Turnover of New Nurses

    Notes

    This study was supported by a grant from The Korean Council of Deans of Nursing College and Department.

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    MeSH Terms
    Health Policy
    Health Resources
    Korea*
    Nursing Care
    Nursing*
    Salaries and Fringe Benefits
    Staff Development
    Unemployment
    Metrics
    Share
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    Tables
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    Funding Information
    PERMALINK