Working Conditions in Home Health Care Nursing: A Survey of Home Care Nurses in Hospitals in Korea.
10.4040/jkan.2005.35.7.1229
- Author:
Hosihn RYU
1
;
Heasook JO
;
Yoonok KIM
;
Youngmi YOON
;
Jongrae SONG
;
Ji Young LIM
;
Soonyong KHIM
;
In A KIM
Author Information
1. College of Nursing, Korea University.
- Publication Type:Original Article ; English Abstract
- Keywords:
Home care agencies;
Hospital based home cares
- MeSH:
Middle Aged;
Korea;
Humans;
Home Care Services, Hospital-Based;
*Home Care Services;
Home Care Agencies;
Female;
Data Collection;
*Community Health Nursing;
Adult
- From:
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
2005;35(7):1229-1237
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to address the working conditions of home health nurses through a nationwide home health agency survey conducted at hospitals. METHOD: The mail surveys were sent to 303 home health nurses nation wide and returned with a response rate of 71.8%. RESULT: (a) Seventy-five percent of home health agencies were established within the past5 years and half of home health nurses are over 40 years old. (b) Working conditions were considered as follows: Seventy-one percent of respondents were full-time employees, sixty-sixpercent of home health nurses had unscheduled visits on a regular day of duty and forty-eight percent were on vacation. Fifty-one percent of home health nurses have experienced traffic accidents and paid penalties (65.9%). Self-reported monthly income level per year was an average of 28,364,000 won. (c) Rates were significantly higher for shoulder pain (61.5%), lower back pain (54.1%), knee pain (39.4%), and gastrointestinal problems (33.0%). CONCLUSION: These baseline results show the importance of improving home health nursing working conditions, a comprehensive prevention system and safeguards from physical discomfort.
