Purpose
To explore the relationship between nursing care needs and acuity based on the Korean Patient Classification System for Critical Care Nurses (KPCSC) and APACHE II, and to identify their prognostic value in predicting mortality.
Methods
A total of 617 patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit in a tertiary hospital from January 1 to June 30, 2021 were included. The correlation between KPCSC and APACHE II scores, and their predictive power regarding mortality were examined.
Results
KPCSC and APACHE II scores showed a significant, positive correlation (r=.32, p<.001). The KPCSC score was significantly correlated with 10 out of 11 KPCSC categories and 2 out of 3 APACHE II domains, whereas the APACHE II score had a significant correlation with all APACHE II domains and only 4 out of 11 KPCSC categories. Both KPCSC and APACHE II demonstrated moderate discriminatory performance in predicting ICU and in-hospital death, and their AUC values were not significantly different.
Conclusion
KPCSC, reflecting the severity of illness, predicted mortality as well as APACHE II. However, KPCSC was found to consider factors other than severity, such as patient dependency, which substantiates its value as an assessment tool for nursing care needs.

Citations

• Comparisons of nursing hours and nurse-to-patient ratios required for patients with mechanical ventilation, CRRT, and ECMO in intensive care units: A cross-sectional study
  Sung-Hyun Cho, Shin-Ae Kim, Eunhye Kim
  Intensive and Critical Care Nursing.2025; 89: 103982.     CrossRef
• Relationship between Nurse Staffing and Critical Nursing Activities in Intensive Care Units : Analysis of National Health Insurance Claims Data from 2009 to 2020
  U Ri Go, Sung-Hyun Cho
  Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing.2024; 17(2): 25.     CrossRef

Purpose
This study aimed to identify the occupational performance and development needs, and specifically the priority needs, of general hospital nurses according to their career levels so as to help create an effective nursing management competency development program. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted with 203 nurses working at three advanced general hospitals in G metropolitan city and C province. The participants completed a questionnaire about behavioral indicators which measured their nursing management performance and development needs. Their career levels were divided into four. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Borich need, and the Locus for Focus model. Results: The mean levels of nursing management performance and competency development needs were 2.78±0.75 and 4.07±0.58, respectively. There was a significant difference in nursing management performance and development needs according to career level (F=6.18, p<.001, F=12.35, p<.001). Priority need analysis showed that level 1, level 2, level 3, level 4 nurses had higher demands for self-development and adaptation to new changes/organization/nursing work performance and information management role/creativity development, respectively. Conclusion: The findings provide a basis for training systems that differentiate between contents and degrees of nursing management competency based on career level to develop nursing human resources.

Citations

• Education in General Radiological Examination Methods Analysis of Improvement Needs
  Young-Ju Moon, Woo-Taek Lim, Young-Cheol Joo, Hong-Ryang Jung, Cheong-Hwan Lim
  Journal of Radiological Science and Technology.2024; 47(6): 523.     CrossRef
• Influence of Emotional Intelligence of Experienced Nurses on Nursing Managerial Competence: Focusing on the Mediating Effect of Communication Competence
  Yunji Kang, Jeong-Hee Kim
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration.2024; 30(1): 79.     CrossRef
• Need analysis for managerial competencies of nurse managers in general hospitals
  Hee-Kyoung Jeong, Seongmi Moon
  The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education.2024; 30(1): 82.     CrossRef
• Educational needs for nursing manager competency in Korean hospitals: multi-center cross-sectional study
  Seung-Min Lee, Beob-Wang Ahn, Mi Yu
  BMC Nursing.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef

Purpose
To develop a web-based solution for patient need-driven staffing (PNDS) that automatically determines nurses’ staffing requirements. Methods: Activities provided by nurses in four integrated nursing care wards (INCWs) and non-INCWs each in a tertiary hospital were observed over three days. Nursing hours per patient hour (NHPPH) were calculated by dividing nursing hours by patient stay hours per day. Patient needs were evaluated using 19 items. Results: The nurse-patient ratios in INCWs and non-INCWs were 1:4.5 and 1:8.1 (including overtime), respectively. Admitted and transferred-in patients had higher NHPPHs than those with continuing stays. The patients were classified into five groups: Group A for admissions and transfers-in, and Groups 1~4 for the remainder. In INCWs, the nurse-patient ratios ranged from 1:5.3 (Group 1) to 1:2.4 (Group 4), and Group A required 1:3.0, the secondhighest level. In non-INCWs, ratios ranged from 1:9.4 (Group 1) to 1:5.2 (Group 4 and Group A). The PNDS solution was developed to determine staffing requirements by classifying patients into five groups using the entered data on patient needs, assigning the group’s NHPPH to each patient, and calculating the staffing ratio required in the unit. Conclusion: The PNDS is expected to support staffing decisions to meet patient needs.

Citations

• Comparisons of nursing hours and nurse-to-patient ratios required for patients with mechanical ventilation, CRRT, and ECMO in intensive care units: A cross-sectional study
  Sung-Hyun Cho, Shin-Ae Kim, Eunhye Kim
  Intensive and Critical Care Nursing.2025; 89: 103982.     CrossRef
• Comparison of Nurse Work Hours and Nursing Activities Between High‐ and Low‐Staffed General Wards: A Cross‐Sectional Study
  Jiyeong Seong, Sung‐Hyun Cho, Hyo‐Jeong Yoon, Won‐Hee Sim, Moon‐Sook Kim
  Nursing Open.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Trajectories of nursing hours over the course of hospitalization and estimated additional nurse staffing requirements to reduce the length of stay
  Shin‐Ae Kim, Sung‐Hyun Cho
  Journal of Nursing Scholarship.2024; 56(5): 694.     CrossRef
• Recommending Revised Inpatient Nursing Fee Schedules Based on Actual Nurse Staffing Levels in General Wards
  Sung-Hyun Cho, Jinhyun Kim, Jiyeong Seong, Ji-Yun Lee
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration.2023; 29(5): 540.     CrossRef

Purpose
To compare actual versus expected nursing hours based on patients’ nursing care needs.
Methods
The nursing care needs of 898 inpatients in 20 wards at 11 hospitals were measured using the 14 items developed by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). Nursing activities from 474 nursing personnel were observed every 10 minutes for 24 hours. Actual hours indicated direct care hours per patient day provided by registered nurses according to 3 types: (1) standard hours based on staffing standards approved by the NHIS, (2) scheduled hours excluding overtime hours, and (3) observed hours including overtime. Expected hours were estimated from the linear mixed effect model including hospital type, nursing care need items and their interaction terms.
Results
Standard hours ranged from 0.92 to 2.15; scheduled hours from 0.88 to 1.95; observed hours from 1.00 to 2.40; expected hours from 0.88 to 2.33. Eight hospitals had standard hours not meeting the expected hours and 2 hospitals did observed hours not meeting the expected hours due to nurses’ overtime. In 3 hospitals, all types of actual hours exceeded the expected hours.
Conclusion
Staffing needs to be determined based on patients’ care needs and to be improved to minimize nurses’ overtime work.

Citations

• Factors Affecting the Direct and Indirect Performance of Infection Control for Centrally Inserted Central Catheters Among ICU Nurses
  Yoonjeong Park, Seunghye Choi
  Healthcare.2025; 13(9): 988.     CrossRef
• A comparative analysis of nurses' reported number of patients and perceived appropriate number of patients in integrated nursing care services
  Hyunjeong Kwon, Jinhyun Kim
  Nursing & Health Sciences.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Analysis of the Adequacy of Nurse Staffing Level through the Estimation of Nursing Activity Hours and Implementation of Focus Group Interviews in a Tertiary Hospital: Using a Mixed-Method Design
  Hyun-Joo Kim, Sun-Hee Lee, Jai-Jung Lee, Sun-Suk Seong, Hee Yang, Hyang-Yuol Lee
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2024; 54(2): 237.     CrossRef
• Comparison of Factors Affecting Delirium Nursing Stress between Nurses in Comprehensive Nursing Care Service Wards and General Wards
  Sumin Gwon, Gaeun Kim
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration.2024; 30(5): 517.     CrossRef
• Factors associated with nursing needs and nursing hours in acute care hospital settings: A cross‐sectional study
  Seon Heui Lee, Hanju Lee, Soyoung Yu
  Journal of Nursing Management.2022; 30(6): 2005.     CrossRef
• Patient‐level and organizational‐level factors influencing in‐hospital falls
  Jinhyun Kim, Eunhee Lee, Yoomi Jung, Hyunjeong Kwon, Sunmi Lee
  Journal of Advanced Nursing.2022; 78(11): 3641.     CrossRef
• Development of a Web-Based Solution for Patient Need-Driven Staffing to Determine Nurse Staffing Requirements
  Sung-Hyun Cho, Hyo-Jeong Yoon, Sun Ju Chang, Ji-Yun Lee, Won-Hee Sim, Moon-Sook Kim, Sung-Cheol Yun
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration.2022; 28(3): 238.     CrossRef
• The Relationship between Nursing Care Needs and Nurse Staffing in Pulmonology Nursing Units
  Hye-Kyung Jo, Sung-Heui Bae
  Korean Journal of Adult Nursing.2021; 33(3): 236.     CrossRef
• Characteristics of Medication Administration Error Alerts in Application of Mobile Medication System
  Suk-Hee Song, Ju-Won Back, In-Seon Han, Eun-Hye Kim, Nyeon-Im Byun, Eun-Mi Cho, Ta-Sea An, Hui-Joeng Hong
  Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing.2021; 28(2): 149.     CrossRef

Purpose
This study aimed to examine the prevalence of unmet healthcare needs and the factors that influence unmet healthcare needs among older people with cognitive impairment. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive design with secondary data from the 2017 National Survey of Older Koreans was used in this study. Data from 1,382 people over the age of 65 years with cognitive impairments were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was conducted based on Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use.
Results
Overall, 9.6% of the participants reported unmet healthcare needs during the previous 12 months. The main reasons for unmet healthcare needs were financial constraints (45.4%), mobility limitation (18.0%), and mildness of symptoms (14.9%). Higher unmet healthcare needs were significantly associated with fewer years of education, no family members providing caregiving or assistance with hospital visits, fewer close relatives, lower income, greater impairment in activities of daily living, and presence of depressive symptoms.
Conclusion
Our findings indicate that predisposing factors, enabling factors, and need factors were significantly associated with unmet healthcare needs among elderly individuals with cognitive impairment. Therefore, it is necessary to establish healthcare policies and strategies to improve the accessibility of healthcare services.

Citations

• Community-Dwelling Older Adults’ Intended Use of Different Types of Long-Term Care in China and Its Associated Factors Based on the Andersen Behavioral Model
  Run-Ping Che, Mei-Chun Cheung
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2022; 19(18): 11626.     CrossRef
• Factors Affecting Unmet Healthcare Needs among Adults with Chronic Diseases
  Ji-Young Han, Hyeon-Sook Park
  Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing.2021; 32(2): 131.     CrossRef
• Association between the severity of new-onset depression and unmet healthcare needs of South Korean adults
  Su Yeon Kim, Wonjeong Jeong, Eun-Cheol Park, Sohee Park, Sung-In Jang, Arista Lahiri
  PLOS ONE.2021; 16(8): e0256222.     CrossRef
• The Effects of Social Networks of the Older Adults with Limited Instrumental Activities of Daily Living on Unmet Medical Needs
  Hye-Young Jang, Young Ko, Song-Yi Han
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2020; 18(1): 27.     CrossRef
• Unmet Healthcare Needs of Children in Vulnerable Families in South Korea: Finding from the Community Child Center Child Panel Survey
  Suyon Baek, Eun-Hi Choi, Jungeun Lee
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2020; 17(21): 8241.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
To determine nurse staffing by classifying patients based on their nursing care needs and to benchmark current staffing against the Safer Nursing Care Tool (SNCT) staffing requirements.
METHODS
Cross-sectional data were collected from four general wards at a tertiary hospital. Nursing activities conducted by 86 registered nurses were observed at 10-minute intervals. The nursing care needs of 780 inpatients were measured with two dimensions: acuity (10 nursing activities) and dependency (four activities of daily living).
RESULTS
Nurses worked for 9.3 hours per shift on average, reflecting overtime work of 1.3 hours per nurse. Nurses spent 37% of their time on direct care, 54% on indirect care, and 9% on associated work. Nursing hours per patient day increased as nursing care needs became higher. Patients were classified into four groups based on their level of nursing care needs. The staffing ratio of groups 1-4 was 1:9.8, 1:8.0, 1:7.0, and 1:4.6, respectively. The current staffing (i.e., nursing hours) was as low as 53% of the SNCT benchmark, resulting in informal caregiving by patients' family or their privately hired attendants.
CONCLUSION
Appropriate and safe staffing is required to meet patients' nursing care needs and to improve the quality of nursing care.

Citations

• Relationship between Patient Classification System and APACHE II Scores, and Mortality Prediction in a Surgical Intensive Care Unit
  U Ri Go, Sung-Hyun Cho
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration.2024; 30(1): 67.     CrossRef
• Experiences of South Korean mothers of children with medical complexity under long‐term hospitalization
  Ji Young An, So‐Hi Kwon, Hye Ri Choi
  Nursing Open.2023; 10(3): 1840.     CrossRef
• Association of nursing hours with cognitive function, balance, and dependency level of stroke patients
  Haneul Lee, Kyounga Lee, Seon‐Heui Lee
  Nursing Open.2023; 10(3): 1735.     CrossRef
• Nursing students' experiences and perceptions of barriers to the implementation of person‐centred care in clinical settings: A qualitative study
  Seonho Kim, Myoungsuk Kim
  Nursing Open.2023; 10(3): 1889.     CrossRef
• Exploring nurses' multitasking in clinical settings using a multimethod study
  Yoojin Kim, Mi Ja Lee, Mona Choi, Eunhee Cho, Gi Wook Ryu
  Scientific Reports.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Relationships between Alternative Nurse Staffing Level Measurements and Nurses’ Perceptions of Nurse Staffing Level Adequacy, Fatigue, and Care Quality
  Kyung Jin Hong, Hyesook Chung, Young Mi Jo, Paolo C. Colet
  Journal of Nursing Management.2023; 2023: 1.     CrossRef
• An Analysis of Tasks of Nurses Caring for Patients with COVID-19 in a Nationally-Designated Inpatient Treatment Unit
  Minho Jung, Moon-Sook Kim, Joo-Yeon Lee, Kyung Yi Lee, Yeon-Hwan Park
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2022; 52(4): 391.     CrossRef
• Measuring patient acuity and nursing care needs in South Korea: application of a new patient classification system
  Jeounghee Kim, TaeRim Kang, Hyun-Ju Seo, So-Young Seo, Myoungsook Kim, Youngsun Jung, Jinhyun Kim, Jung- Bok Lee
  BMC Nursing.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Development of a Web-Based Solution for Patient Need-Driven Staffing to Determine Nurse Staffing Requirements
  Sung-Hyun Cho, Hyo-Jeong Yoon, Sun Ju Chang, Ji-Yun Lee, Won-Hee Sim, Moon-Sook Kim, Sung-Cheol Yun
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration.2022; 28(3): 238.     CrossRef
• The Nurse Staffing in Intensive Care Units based on Nursing Care Needs: A Multicenter Study
  Miok Park, Eunjin Yang, Mimi Lee, Sung-Hyun Cho, Miyoung Shim, Soon Haeng Lee
  Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing.2021; 14(2): 1.     CrossRef
• The Relationship between Nursing Care Needs and Nurse Staffing in Pulmonology Nursing Units
  Hye-Kyung Jo, Sung-Heui Bae
  Korean Journal of Adult Nursing.2021; 33(3): 236.     CrossRef
• Estimation of Expected Nursing Hours Based on Patients' Nursing Care Needs and a Comparison with Actual Nursing Hours in Comprehensive Nursing Care Wards
  Sung-Hyun Cho, Kyung Jin Hong, Hyo-Jeong Yoon, Sun Ju Chang, Kyunghi Choi, Hyang-Jeong Park, Iksoo Huh
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration.2020; 26(4): 365.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to investigate perception, satisfaction and needs for continuing education for nurses in Korea.
METHODS
Participants were selected 1,106 using disproportional stratified sampling for the 110,601 members of the 10 affiliated organizations of the Korean Nurses Association and 873 nurses participated in the online survey. Data were collected from February 2 to 27, 2015, and analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 24.0 program. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, One-way ANOVA, and Scheffé test were conducted.
RESULTS
The perception of continuing education averaged 0.69 on a scale of 1, satisfaction with continuing education was 3.66 out of 5, and need for continuing education was 4.33 out of 6. Perception, satisfaction and needs for continuing education showed significant differences depending on age, marriage, education, work department, type of work and clinical career, while perception and satisfaction differed more among type of institution and the affiliated groups.
CONCLUSION
For the development of continuing education for nurses, it is necessary to establish an integrated information system for nurse continuing education and to develop various education programs for career development.

Citations

• A Study on the Need for Continuing Professional Ethics Education for Optometrists
  Se-Eun Ju, Ji-Hee Jang, Hyun-Sung Leem, Mi-A Jung
  The Korean Journal of Vision Science.2024; 26(3): 177.     CrossRef