코로나19 대응과 간호사 처우 개선의 방안

Abstract

The whole world has been suffering from coronavirus infection since late 2019. Despite vaccination in each country, the number of infections and deaths is increasing worldwide, making it difficult to predict the peak and end of the pandemic. There is more than one nurse infection every day since October last year due to the chain effect of the prolonged pandemic which raises the risk of a nurse shortage, long-hour of work, fatigue accumulation, and safety. Although the government has designated local public medical institutions for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment and care centers, most of the institutions suffer from a chronic shortage of nurses which causes an increase in difficulties. Under such circumstances, the Korean Nurses Association is focusing on solving the problem of poor treatment by operating an emergency response headquarters to support nurses in the frontline and playing a role in communicating between the frontline nursing site and the government. The unprecedented long-term pandemic served as an opportunity to reveal and highlight the current poor medical resources and working conditions they face. The number of beds in medical institutions was the second-highest among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries after Japan, but the number of intensive care units was low, and the absence of skilled nurses in charge of critical patients was also found to be a problem. The lack of experienced skilled nurses in addition to the poor working conditions and low wages was also an important threat to the safety of patients. As infectious diseases such as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome), and COVID-19 appear regularly, the role of nurses in public health institutions is becoming pivotal. We can no longer expect them to commit to their sense of duty. Imminent actions should be taken now to improve working conditions and poor treatment through the Enactment of Nursing Laws. Efforts should be taken to allows nurses to fulfill their duties professionally in their area of expertise.