Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Lessons from the US Advanced Practice Registered Nurse system: Eun-Ok Im, Dongmi Kim; J Korean Acad Nurs 2025;55(4):492-505. Published online November 27, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.25120

Abstract PDF ePub: Purpose
This review compares the development of South Korea’s Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) system the well-established APRN system in the United States and provides recommendations for future improvements to the APRN system in South Korea.
Methods
To compare the APRN systems between the two countries, an integrative literature review was conducted using multiple databases and professional nursing organization documents and reports from both the United States and South Korea.
Results
Issues were identified in five major domains: (1) research evidence, (2) education and training, (3) the scope of practice, (4) financial mechanisms, and (5) public awareness and acceptance.
Conclusion
Recommendations are made in four areas: (1) building evidence to support APRN programs; (2) strengthening APRN education; (3) establishing legal support and reimbursement mechanisms; and (4) improving public awareness and acceptance of APRNs.

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Strategies for expanding the role of advanced practice providers in the Korean nursing workforce: a mixed-methods approach: Jeong Hye Kim, Mi-Kyeong Jeon, Suyoung Choi, Mimi Lee, Su Jung Choi; J Korean Acad Nurs 2025;55(4):568-583. Published online November 21, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.25106

Abstract PDF ePub: Purpose
This study aimed to propose strategies for strengthening the nursing workforce by expanding their roles as advanced practice providers (APPs).
Methods
A mixed-methods approach was employed, consisting of five focus group interviews (FGIs) with 30 healthcare professionals (including 10 physicians) and a two-round Delphi survey with 49 experts. The FGIs explored practical insights from clinical settings, while the Delphi process validated and prioritized strategic recommendations through expert consensus.
Results
Four major themes emerged from the FGI analysis: (1) utilization of diverse APPs to ensure quality care, (2) expanding the scope of practice of APPs, (3) requirements to ensure the quality of APPs, and (4) strategies for sustainable management of the APP workforce. Building on these findings, the Delphi survey identified five strategic domains: “definition and qualifications,” “scope of practice,” “educational programs,” “credentialing and regulation,” and “support systems.” Key areas of consensus included the need for mandatory clinical experience and specialty training, legal clarification of role boundaries, standardized curricula with certification mechanisms, and institution-led support systems such as task-specific job descriptions and recredentialing processes.
Conclusion
To effectively strengthen APP roles, it is essential to build on the existing advanced practice nurse (APN) framework, which already includes structured curricula and national certification. Furthermore, integrative strategies should be developed to incorporate experienced clinical nurses without APN licenses into the APN system.

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Experiences of Patients and Their Families Receiving Medical Services Provided by Advanced Practice Nurses at Tertiary General Hospitals: Mi-Kyeong Jeon, Su Jung Choi, Ji Eun Han, Eun Kyung Kwon, Jeong Hee Park, Jeong Hye Kim; J Korean Acad Nurs 2024;54(4):594-606. Published online November 4, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.24069

Abstract PDF ePub

Purpose

This study aimed to understand and describe the experiences of patients and their families who have received medical services from advanced practice nurses in tertiary general hospitals in Korea.

Methods

Data were collected through four focus group interviews with 20 patients and their families who had received medical services from advanced practice nurses for more than six months at four tertiary hospitals from November 29 to December 28, 2023. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

The four themes extracted from the experiences of patients and their families were as follows: unfamiliar medical personnel encountered during the treatment process, healthcare professionals who exhibited excellence, companions to light my way through the tunnel of illness, and an advanced practice nurse system that must be activated urgently.

Conclusion

The study’s findings indicate that patients and their families view the care provided by advanced practice nurses as excellent, reliable, and holistic. Research suggests that advanced practice nurses are valuable healthcare professionals in team-based care. The findings suggest that hospitals should utilize an advanced practice nurse system to improve patient outcomes and ensure the quality of care.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Legislation of Medical Support Tasks in the Nursing Act as a Foundation for Nursing Professionalism and Role Expansion
Su Jung Choi
Korean Journal of Adult Nursing.2025; 37(2): 69. CrossRef
Strategies for expanding the role of advanced practice providers in the Korean nursing workforce: a mixed-methods approach
Jeong Hye Kim, Mi-Kyeong Jeon, Suyoung Choi, Mimi Lee, Su Jung Choi
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2025; 55(4): 568. CrossRef
Nurses' Patient Care Experiences in a Changing Healthcare Environment Following One Year of Healthcare Policy Conflict - A Focus Group Interview
Eun Hee Kang, Yunhyung Kim, Jeong Hye Kim
Journal of Korean Association for Qualitative Research.2025; 10(3): 280. CrossRef

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1 Web of Science
3 Crossref

Legal and Practical Solutions for the Expanding the Roles of Medical Support Staff Nurses: Su Jung Choi, Min Young Kim; J Korean Acad Nurs 2024;54(3):300-310. Published online August 31, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.24075

Abstract PDF

Purpose
Medical support staff nurses have traditionally performed various supportive tasks for physicians, often extending beyond standard nursing roles. Despite these long-standing practices, there is a notable lack of official recognition and legal protection for these expanded responsibilities, leading to increasing legal concerns. Therefore, there is a need for proposing a rational solution to address these issues.
Methods
The number of medical support staff nurses is rising, particularly as they fill gaps left by the 2024 resident physician strike. The study focuses on identifying potential challenges arising from this shift and developing strategic improvements to address these challenges effectively.
Results
This study proposed legally expanding the scope of nursing duties and creating a robust system for training and certifying nurses to handle these responsibilities effectively, by integrating these roles within the advanced practice nurse (APN) framework.
Conclusion
Integrating these roles within the framework of APN can offer a sustainable and legally sound solution to the ongoing healthcare crisis, ensuring patient safety and safeguarding healthcare workers’ legal rights.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Legislation of Medical Support Tasks in the Nursing Act as a Foundation for Nursing Professionalism and Role Expansion
Su Jung Choi
Korean Journal of Adult Nursing.2025; 37(2): 69. CrossRef
Role Transformation and Adaptation of Physician Assistants during the 2024 Medical Workforce Shortage: A Phenomenological Study
Tae Yeong Yang, Nahyun Lee
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration.2025; 31(3): 259. CrossRef
Effects of Role Conflict, Work Environment, and Meaning of Work on Job Embeddedness among Physician Assistants
Kwang Hoon Seo, Tae Yeong Yang, Nam Gyu Park, Jung Eun Park
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration.2025; 31(3): 249. CrossRef
Media discourse on physician assistant nurses in South Korea: a text network and topic modeling approach
Young Gyu Kwon, Daun Jeong, Song Hee Park, Mi Kyung Kim, Chan Woong Kim
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2025; 55(3): 388. CrossRef
Comparison of educational needs and priorities for work-related laws between hospital and community-based nurses
Jeonghyun Kim, Min Kyoung Han, Minjae Lee, Sujin Shin
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2025; 55(3): 400. CrossRef
Predictors of end-of-life care among emergency nurses: A cross-sectional study in Korea
Ji Seon Lee, Sook Jung Kang
Australasian Emergency Care.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
The Influence of Clinical Practice Nurses' Self-Leadership, Role Conflict, and Practice Environment on Patient Safety Competency
Jeong Hwa Heo, Ji Hyun Sung
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration.2025; 31(4): 458. CrossRef
Strategies for expanding the role of advanced practice providers in the Korean nursing workforce: a mixed-methods approach
Jeong Hye Kim, Mi-Kyeong Jeon, Suyoung Choi, Mimi Lee, Su Jung Choi
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2025; 55(4): 568. CrossRef
Development and Psychometric Properties of the Korean Version of the Novice Nursing Practitioner Role Transition Scale
Eun Sook Kim, Mi-Kyeong Jeon, Su Jung Choi, Onam Ok, Genehee Lee, Ahyeong Song
Asian Nursing Research.2025; 19(5): 462. CrossRef

5,122 View
293 Download
4 Web of Science
9 Crossref

Development of a Resource-based Relative Value Scale and Its Conversion Factor for Advanced Nursing Practices in the National Health Insurance: Jin Hyun Kim, Myung Ae Kim, Mi Won Kim, Kyung Sook Kim, Cheong-Suk Yoo; J Korean Acad Nurs 2011;41(3):302-312. Published online June 13, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2011.41.3.302

Abstract PDF

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to develop a resource-based relative value scale (RBRVS) and its conversion factor for advanced nursing practices carried out by critical care nurse practitioners (CCNP) in intensive care units.

Methods

The methodology was developed by calculating CCNP's RBRVS for 32 advanced nursing services based on CCNP's workload and time spent in the context of national health insurance. A cost analysis was performed to estimate the conversion factor of CCNP's RBRVS. The share of CCNP's contribution to fee-for-service in intensive care units was also analyzed.

Results

Calculation of the RBRVS of 32 advanced nursing practices showed a range of points from 100.0 to 1,181.4 and an average of 296.1 points. The relevant conversion factor for advanced nursing practices in CCNP were estimated at 37.3-48.4 won. The contribution rate of CCNP's advanced nursing practices in the relative value scale of the national health insurance was estimated at 0.1-31.3%.

Conclusion

Measuring the economic value of advanced nursing services will be a basis for esta-blishing a reimbursement system for CCNP's practices and thus encourage a social demand for advanced nurse practitioners.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Measuring the Work Relative Value of Common Nursing Items for the General Departments of Tertiary Hospitals: A Descriptive Study
Yingli Wang, Cong Wang, Hongfei Ren, Ling Mao, Fenjiao Chen, Taoyun Liang, Yuqin Luo, Yan Jiang
Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
A Resource-Based Relative Value for Clinical Research Nurses’ Workload
Sangmi Lee, Ihn Sook Jeong
Therapeutic Innovation & Regulatory Science.2018; 52(3): 313. CrossRef
An Empirical Analysis of Costs related to Nursing Practice
Yu Kyung Ko, Bo-Hyun Park
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration.2017; 23(2): 139. CrossRef
Economic Analysis and Fee Development by Relative Value Scale of Nursing Practices by Emergency Nurse Practitioner
Jin Hyun Kim, Kyung Sook Kim, Mi Won Kim, Kyoung-A Lee
Korean Journal of Adult Nursing.2013; 25(3): 275. CrossRef

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4 Crossref

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