Nurse's Role Performance and Perception of the Importance of Role among Nurses Practicing in a Cancer Care Facility

암 전문병원 간호사의 간호역할 수행도와 중요도

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the nurse's role performance and the perception of the importance of role among nurses practicing in a cancer care facility. Methods: A descriptive study design was applied with convenient sampling of 175 nurses working at a cancer care facility in Daegu, Korea. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire from July 1, 2013 to July 5, 2013. Results: Cancer care facility nurse's role performance score was measured on average $3.23{\pm}0.64.$ Oral medication was the most frequently performed role, followed by encouragement, care related to medication, and pain management. The perception of the importance of nurse's role was measured on average $3.31{\pm}0.35$. Care related to medication was regarded as the most important, followed by transfusion, oral medication, and intravenous & intramuscular medication. Nurse's role performance was different according to nurse's age (F=3.21, p=.024) and current practice area (F=3.73, p=.012). The perception of the importance of nurse's role was different only in relation to current practice area (F=6.82, p<.001). Conclusion: Nurses practicing in oncology setting frequently involve encouraging patients and pain management. Training programs designed to facilitate frequently performed and highly regarded nurse's roles are required for nurses practicing in oncology setting.