• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.47-63
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• 2011

Purpose : This research is to examine the work and job satisfaction of paramedics in the emergency room of university hospitals. This research is done to provide basic data needed for establishing work realms of paramedics in hospitals and to enhance their degree of satisfaction. Methods : Research questionnaire survey was conducted on 141 paramedics working in the emergency room of 32 university hospitals from August 24, 2010 to September 30, 2010 through direct visits and telephone interviews or email to explain the purpose of this research and assurance of confidentiality of responses on the questionnaires. As the tool for the degree of job satisfaction, 'The Index of Work Satisfaction' developed by Slavitt, et al(1978) and revised and supplemented by Soon-shim Kim and Hye-ran Kwon(2002) was used. The collected data were analyzed by evaluating frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test and ANOVA, Cronbach's $\alpha$ by using SPSS WIN 18.0 program. Results : 1. Investigating the work and role of paramedics in the emergency room of university hospitals, electrocardiogram(EKG) was found to be highest with $\alpha$ was widely used with the rate of patient evaluation and test area. In the medical treatment for patients area, cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) with 95%(134 persons) and ventilation assistance through ambu bagging(BVM) with 95%(134 persons) were found to be high. $\alpha$ were performed. In the role within the hospital and other areas, a member of CPR team in the hospital accounted for 78%(110 persons). 2. In the measurements of the job satisfaction of paramedics working at university hospitals, the total mean score was 2.91. The mean score in each question area indicated: section on job 3.48, autonomy 3.05, interaction 3.01, organizational demand 2.85, working conditions 2.67, salaries 2.40. This result obviously demonstrates the work of paramedics itself was most satisfied but the salaries were most dissatisfied. 3. In the measurements of the job satisfaction of paramedics working at university hospitals, job satisfaction based on the general characteristics showed significant difference in age (F=6.547, p=.002), gender (F=4.436, p=.000) marital status (F=-3.270, p= .001), religion (F=2.041, p= .043), motive for application (F=3.603, p= .015), and salary (F=6.658, p= .000). 대학병원 응급실 내 1급 응급구조사의 업무와 직무만족도 The Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medical Technology Vol. 15 (1) 63 4. In the measurements of the job satisfaction of paramedics working at university hospitals, job satisfaction based on the working environmental characteristics showed significant difference in total number of paramedics (F=3.779, p= .012), form of employment (F=5.601, p= .001), existence or non-existence of intention to change jobs (F=-4.037, p= .000). Conclusion : The work of paramedics in the emergency room of university hospitals consists of lots of treatment processes after specialized diagnosis and performance of professionally subdivided works. However, current legislation does not reflect such circumstances to which paramedics are exposed; thus, it should be considered for further revision and modification. The degree of job satisfaction of paramedics in the emergency room of university hospitals was high but low in salaries and working conditions were the weak points. The measures to enhance their degree of job satisfaction should be taken though improvement of labor conditions such as consideration of the rate of increase in salaries, compensation for overtime work, providing rest areas, improvement of current employment system, and conversion of temporary employees into regular employees.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.138-155
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• 2000

Background: Factors related to waiting and staying time for patient care in emergency care center (ECC) were examined during 1 month from Apr. 1 to Apr. 30, 1997 at an ECC of Yeungnam university hospital in Taegu metropolitan city, to obtain the baseline data on the strategy of effective management of emergency patients. Method: The study subjects consisted of the 1,742 patients who visited at ECC and the data were obtained from the medical records of ECC and direct surveys. Results: The mean interval between ECC admission time and initial care time by each ECC duty residents was 83.1 minutes for male patients and 84.9 minutes for female patients, and mean ECC staying time (time interval between admission and final disposition from ECC) was 718.0 minutes in men and 670.5 minutes in women. As the results, the mean staying time in ECC was higher in older age, and especially the both of initial care time and staying time were highest in patients of medical aid, and shortest in patients of worker's accident compensation insurance. The on admission or not, previously endotracheal-intubation state of patient. The ECC staying ti initial care time was much more delayed in patients of not having previous medical records and the ECC staying time was higher in referred patients from out-patient department, in transferred patients from the other hospitals and patients having previous records, and in patients partly used the order-communicating system. The factors associated with the initial care time were the numbers of ECC patients and the existence of any true emergent patients, being cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) statusme was much more longer in patients of drug intoxication, in CPR patients, in medical department patients, in transfused patients and in patients related to 3 or more departments. And according to the numbers of duty internships, the ECC staying time for four internships was more longer than for five internships and after admission ordering was done, also-more longer in status being of no available beds. As above mentioned results, the factors for the ECC staying time were thought to be statistically significant (P<0.01) according to the patient's age and the laboratory orders and the X-ray films checked. And also the factor for the ECC staying time were thought to be statistically significant (P<0.01) according to the status being of no available beds, the laboratory orders and/or the special laboratory orders, the X-ray films checked, final disposing department, transferred to other hospital or not, home medication or not, admission or not, the grades of beds, the year grades of residents, the causes of ECC visit, the being CPR status on admission or not, the surgical operation or not, being known personells in our hospital. Conclution: Authors concluded that the relieving method of long-staying time in ECC was being establishing the legally proved apparatus which could differentiate the true emergency or non-emergency patients, and that the methods of shortening ECC staying time were doing definitely necessary laboratory orders and managing beds more flexibly to admit for ECC patients and finally this methods were thought to be a method of unloading for ECC personnels and improving the quality of care in emergency patients.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.108-117
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• 1997

This study was carried out to examine the standards for evaluation of laboratory facilities and equipment. These constitute the most important yet vulnerable area of our system of higher education among the six school evaluation categories provided by the Korean Council for University Education. To obtain data on the present situation of holdings and management of laboratory facilities and equipment at nursing schools in Korea, questionnaires were prepared by members of a special committee of the Korea Nursing Education Society on the basis of the Standards for University Laboratory Facilities and Equipment issued by the Ministry of Education. The questionnaires were sent to nursing schools across the nation by mail on October 4, 1995. 39 institutions completed and returned the questionnaires by mail by December 31 of the same year. The results of the analysis of the survey were as follows: 1. The Physical Environment of Laboratories According to the results of investigation of 14 nursing departments at four-year colleges, laboratories vary in size ranging from 24 to 274.91 pyeong ($1{\;}pyeong{\;}={\;}3.3m^2).$. The average number of students in a laboratory class was 46.93 at four-year colleges, while the number ranged from 40 to 240 in junior colleges. The average floor space of laboratories at junior colleges, however, was almost the same as those, of laboratories at four-year colleges. 2. The Actual State of Laboratory Facilities and Equipment Laboratory equipment possessed by nursing schools at colleges and universities showed a very wide distribution by type, but most of it does not meet government standards according to applicable regulations while some types of equipment are in excess supply. The same is true of junior colleges. where laboratory equipment should meet a different set of government standards specifically established for junior colleges. Closer investigation is called for with regard to those types of equipment which are in short supply in more than 80 percent of colleges and universities. As for the types of equipment in excess supply, investigation should be carried out to determine whether they are really needed in large quantities or should be installed. In many cases, it would appear that unnecessary equipment is procured, even if it is already obsolete, merely for the sake of holding a seemingly impressive armamentarium. 3. Basic Science Laboratory Equipment Among the 39 institutions, five four-year colleges were found to possess equipment for basic science. Only one type of essential equipment, tele-thermometers, and only two types of recommended equipment, rotators and dip chambers, were installed in sufficient numbers to meet the standards. All junior colleges failed to meet the standards in all of equipment categories. Overall, nursing schools at all of the various institutions were found to be below per in terms of laboratory equipment. 4. Required Equipment In response to the question concerning which type of equipment was most needed and not currently in possession, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) machines and electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors topped the list with four respondents each, followed by measuring equipment. 5. Management of Laboratory Equipment According to the survey, the professors in charge of clinical training and teaching assistants are responsible for management of the laboratory at nursing schools at all colleges and universities, whereas the chief of the general affairs section or chairman of the nursing department manages the laboratory at junior colleges. This suggests that the administrative systems are more or less different. According to the above results, laboratory training could be defined as a process by which nursing students pick up many of the nursing skills necessary to become fully qualified nurses. Laboratory training should therefore be carefully planned to provide students with high levels of hands-on experience so that they can effectively handle problems and emergencies in actual situations. All nursing students should therefore be thoroughly drilled and given as much on-the-job experience as possible. In this regard, there is clearly a need to update the equipment criteria as demanded by society's present situation rather than just filling laboratory equipment quotas according to the current criteria.