Purpose
This study aimed to identify changes in the regional distribution of nurses from 2011 to 2020 and to measure the degree of geographic inequality in the distribution of nurses.
Methods
National statistics from 2011 to 2020 were used to analyze the distribution of practicing nurses and nursing graduates by region. The degree of geographic inequality in these distributions was measured using the Gini coefficient.
Results
Between 2011 and 2020, the number of nursing graduates increased significantly in the non-capital regions and medically underserved areas. However, non-capital regions observed a smaller increase in the number of practicing nurses than in the number of nursing graduates produced, while capital regions experienced a larger increase in the number of practicing nurses than in the number of nursing graduates produced. Furthermore, the degree of geographic inequality in the distribution of practicing nurses worsened between 2011 and 2020.
Conclusion
Effective policies to prevent the outflow of rural nurses are necessary to mitigate geographical inequality in the distribution of nurses.