Nurses care for premature babies in a neonatal intensive care unit at Seoul National University Hospital. Recent data show the number of nurses continues to fall in rural areas because of low pay and poor working conditions. Korea Times file



By Lee Kyung-min



Hospitals in rural areas continue to see a decreasing number of nurses due to low pay and poor working conditions, one of the main contributors to "accidents" that occur due to safety breaches and emergency guideline violations, that would be preventable with sufficient manpower.



According to data reviewed by Rep. Yang Seung-jo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, the country needs 122,146 more nurses, 1,631 more pharmacists and 785 more doctors for patients to receive quality healthcare services. Under the current system, Korean medical healthcare service professionals are required to take care of the highest number of patients per person than any other advanced country, according to the Korean Nurses Association. "One nurse takes care of less than six patients in the U.S., and those in Japan take care of about seven, but up to 40 patients fall under the care of a single nurse in Korea," an official from the association said.



Of about 340,000 people who took the nursing qualification exam, only slightly more than half, or 180,000, are in the workforce, indicating their reluctance to work due to poor working conditions, with which many prospective nurses see no improvement any time soon, the association added. "About a third or 32 percent of nurses leave their jobs to find one that is less physically demanding and higher-paying, a natural course of action for them given the current situation," the official said.



The lack of family-friendly policies also drives nurses out. "Most nurses are in their 20s and 30s, whose pregnancy plans get largely determined by whether their work guarantees them the welfare they need including state-run daycare centers or whether they can adjust working hour shifts to take care of their babies."



The manpower shortage in hospitals in rural, underdeveloped regions came to light only after a deadly fire killed 39 people and injured 151 more at Sejong Hospital, South Gyeongsang Province, where nine staff had to take care of 99 patients. One medical staff member was responsible for about 11 patients and the hospital had three doctors, only two of whom worked fulltime, in violation of the law which states that at least six doctors and 35 nursing staff were required for a hospital that size.







