Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Research Papers

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

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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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Review Paper

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

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