• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.68-79
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• 2010

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to identify job definition, duties and tasks of Korean oncology Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) and assess frequency, importance, and difficulty for each of duty and task using the DACUM method. Methods: The DACUM committee was organized with nine oncology APNs. The committee documented the job definition, duties and tasks based on their daily job descriptions. Validity of the elicited duties and tasks was tested by a study team and 6 oncology APNs. Data were collected using a questionnaire survey from 53 oncology APNs. Results: The job description of oncology APNs was identified 12 duties and 66 tasks. Among the twelve duties, 'education for patients/families' was the most frequently performed and was the most important duty. 'Case management' was the most difficult duty. Among 66 tasks, 'providing education for patients/families' was most frequently performed. 'Providing education for patients/families' and 'assessing patient condition comprehensively' were the most important tasks. 'Implementation research' as the principal investigator was perceived as the most difficult task. Conclusion: In this study, Korean oncology APNs' job performances were identified and analyzed. It is recommended that job description for oncology APNs needs to be standardized and reshaped in advanced way in future.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.3-14
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was designed to develop job description for Korean oncology APNs and assess importance, frequency, and difficulty for each of task elements listed on the job description. Method: Twenty-four oncology APNs or professors working at cancer centers or universities in Korea were enrolled in this study. They were asked to complete the questionnaires about frequencies, importances, and difficulties on the task elements for the APNs which had developed through a DACUM method. Descriptive statistics were produced by using SPSS WIN 10.0. Result: The job description of oncology APNs was identified 5 duties, 44 tasks, and 110 task elements. As for the all five duties, the average scores of the frequency, importance, and difficulty were 2.57, 2.25 and 2.52. And the role of educator was shown as the most important duty of the oncology ANPs, whereas the role of administer was the least. And the role of consultant was the most frequently performed by the oncology APNs. Conclusion: In this study, we could recognize the reality of oncology APNs' performances having wide spectrum from medical to nursing disciplines. For further verifying and improving performance, we need more precisely designed studies with more representative subjects.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the actual care costs paid to Korean Oncology Advanced Practice Nurses (KOAPN). Methods: We collected data using a group discussion and questionnaire identified 115 tasks from job descriptions developed by the Korean Accreditation Board of Nursing. Forty-two KOAPN working at three university hospitals in Seoul were asked to evaluate each task as to type and whether the cost is paid or not. They were also asked to indicate the tasks in urgent need of development of a care cost with high priority. Results: Only five tasks (4.3%) related to treatment and complication related interventions or education were paid, and they were paid only once during the entire treatment period and were not covered by national health insurance. It was approved as a medical fee by health insurance review & assessment service. Furthermore, the names of the authority (doctor) and the actual provider (nurse) of the prescriptions were different for three of those tasks. Most of the suggested tasks needing development of care costs were actions specifically performed by nurses (physical-psychosocial-spiritual assessment, independent nursing interventions). Conclusion: KOAPN are currently paid for few tasks. To maximize the utilization of KOAPN, the establishment of a clear rational payment system directly related to their actual activities is needed.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.8-17
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate burden, job satisfaction and quality of life of nurses who take care of cancer patients. Methods: The subjects were 237 nurses working at the oncology unit of hospitals with over 500 beds in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Data were collected using questionnaire from the February to March, 2005. Data were analyzed through t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression using SAS. Results: 1. The item that showed the highest level of burden was 'I feel limited even if I make efforts to reduce patients' pain. 'Burden was high in those group both who were younger than 35 years old and who had clinical experiences caring cancer patients for $3{\sim}4$ years. 2. The item that showed the lowest level of job satisfaction was 'the possibility of promotion'. Job satisfaction was high in those group both who had a spouse and were head nurses or incharge nurses. 3. The item that showed the lowest level of quality of life was 'I am physically exhausted'. Over 35 years old who had a spouse, and over 2,000,000 won monthly income made a high score in the quality of life. 4. There were negative correlations among burden, iob satisfaction and the quality of life. 5. The major factor affecting the quality of life was burden. Conclusion: The results of this study are expected to be utilized as basic data for developing support system to improve nurses' work conditions and quality of life.