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Research Paper
- Experiences of work performance among physician assistant nurses during the period of healthcare disruption in South Korea: a qualitative content analysis
- Juyoung Ha, Minji Kim
- Received September 19, 2025 Accepted December 30, 2025 Published online February 24, 2026
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.25133 [Epub ahead of print]
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Abstract
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ePub - Purpose
This study aimed to explore the work experiences of physician assistant (dedicated nurses in Korea) during the medical service gap caused by physician–government conflicts.
Methods
A qualitative design employing individual in-depth interviews was used. Data were collected from July 18 to August 13, 2025. Fifteen nurses who worked as physician assistant 5 during the healthcare service gap participated in the study. Participants were categorized as follows: (1) nurses in the role before the period of healthcare disruption, (2) those who voluntarily applied after the period of healthcare disruption, and (3) those involuntarily assigned during the period of healthcare disruption. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis.
Results
Three categories with six subcategories were identified: (1) reconstructing inner experience within an expanded role (unprepared responsibility and burden, inner fulfillment discovered through continuity of care); (2) reconfiguring relationships from a boundary position (feeling distant as “the same yet different” nurses, expansion of mutual understanding in a crisis context); and (3) precarious positioning within an unestablished system (uncertain standing after residents’ return, episodic implementation of non-standardized training).
Conclusion
This study showed that physician assistant who filled residents’ gaps in an incomplete system experienced heavier role burdens, blurred job identity, unequal conditions, and unstable affiliation, while some also found renewed meaning and fulfillment through continuity of care and closer collaboration. With structured education, clearly defined scopes of practice after residents’ return, and stable legal and organizational support, these nurses can function as more than temporary substitutes and help sustain continuity and quality of patient care.
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