간호업무 관련 의료법 개정의 의의와 향후 과제

On 29 December 2015, the Medical Service Act regarding nursing services was amended and enforced from 30 December 2016. Provision on nurse's task was vague under previous Medical Service Act, which had a gap with actual nursing field. Nurses' roles may be replaced by nurse assistants so that boundaries between two professions were blurred. Also, nurse assistants were in the blind spot of supervision and audit which needs to quality control mechanism. In this regard, this study examined the revision of nursing services related Medical Services Act and reviewed significance and policy implication on revision. Firstly, nurse's mission and duties were specified. It recognized nurses role on health management professional which implies improved professionalism. Secondly, qualification management for nurse assistant was enforced. Nurse assistants are obtained accreditation of qualifications from the Minister of Health and Welfare after completing the curricula prescribed and passing the national examination. An education and training institutes for nurse assistants are assessed and accredited. Registered nurse assistants should declare their qualification as well as get refresher training. Thirdly, nurses give guidance on the assistance performed by nurse assistants which leads to division of mission and duties among nursing staffs. Future tasks of revised Medical Service Act are accumulating cases after amendment, developing supporting policy for management of nurse assistants, managing supply and demand on nursing staffs, and discussion of whole nursing professions including midwife, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and others.