J Korean Acad Nurs Adm.  2014 Jan;20(1):106-116.

Issues and Challenges of Nurse Workforce Policy: A Critical Review and Implication

• Lee T
• Kang KH
• Ko YK
• Cho SH
• Kim EY

Abstract

PURPOSE
In this paper issues and challenges of the workforce policy for nursing were explored and appropriate policy responses identified.
RESULTS
Many countries, including South Korea, are facing a shortage of nurses. In South Korea, the number of practicing registered nurses is about half the average for Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries. The shortage of nurses is not necessarily a shortage of individuals with nursing qualifications but also includes complex issues, such as lack of well-educated nurses, shortage of nurses willing to work, and geographical imbalances of nurses. The present nurse workforce policies are to increase number of nursing schools, to reduce the length of training, and to replace nurses with nursing assistants. However, the findings of many studies have shown that these attempts resulted in a worsening of patient outcomes and increasingly low quality of care.
CONCLUSION
The findings in this study indicate that nurse workforce policy should have a multi-faceted approach in order to address the many factors affecting nurse shortages.

Keyword

Nurse education; Nurse staffing; Skill-mix; Nursing policy

MeSH Terms

Humans
Nursing
Republic of Korea
Schools, Nursing

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