Open Access, Peer-reviewed
eISSN 2093-758X
    J Korean Acad Nurs. 2013 Feb;43(1):39-49. Korean.
    Published online Feb 28, 2013.
    https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2013.43.1.39
    © 2013 Korean Society of Nursing Science
    Original Article

    Structure of Nurse Labor Market and Determinants of Hospital Nurse Staffing Levels

    Bohyun Park,1 Sukyung Seo,2 and Taejin Lee3
      • 1Department of Nursing, Kimcheon Science College, Gimcheon, Korea.
      • 2BK21 Center for Elderly Health Policy Research, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
      • 3Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
    • Address reprint requests to: Lee, Taejin. Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Korea. Tel: +82-2-880-2726, Fax: +82-2-762-9105, Email: tjlee@snu.ac.kr
    Received May 30, 2012; Accepted September 26, 2012.

    Abstract

    Purpose

    To analyze the structure of Korean nurse labor market and examine its effect on hospital nurse staffing.

    Methods

    Secondary data were obtained from Statistics Korea, Education Statistics, and Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service and Patient Survey. Intensity of monopsony in the nurse labor market was measured by Herfindahl Hirshman Index (HHI). Hospital nurse staffing level was divided into high and low. While controlling for confounding factors such as inpatient days and severity mix of patients, effects of characteristics of nurse labor markets on nurse staffing levels were examined using multi-level logistic regressions.

    Results

    For characteristics of nurse labor markets, metropolitan areas had high intensity of monopsony, while the capital area had competitive labor market and the unemployed nurse rate was higher than other areas. Among hospital characteristics, bed occupancy rate was significantly associated with nurse staffing levels. Among characteristics of nurse labor markets, the effect of HHI was indeterminable.

    Conclusion

    The Korean nurse labor market has different structure between the capital and other metropolitan areas. But the effect of the structure of nurse labor market on nurse staffing levels is indeterminable. Characteristics such as occupancy rate and number of beds are significantly associated with nurse staffing levels. Further study in support of the effect of nurse labor market is needed.

    Keywords
    Nursing staff; Economics; Nursing; Health care sector; Hospitals

    Tables

    Table 1
    Definition of Variables and Data Sources

    Table 2
    Demand and Supply for Nurses by Region

    Table 3
    Wage of Nurses by Hospital Characteristics

    Table 4
    Hospital and Environmental Characteristics by Nurse Staffing Level

    Table 5
    Determinants of Hospital Nurse Staffing Levels (Dependent variable: High nurse grade)

    Notes

    This manuscript is based on a part of the first author's doctoral dissertation from Seoul National University.

    This study was supported by the research fund of the Korea Health & Medical Worker's Union in 2011.

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    MeSH Terms
    Hospitals
    Humans
    Logistic Models
    Nursing Staff, Hospital/economics
    Nursing Staff, Hospital/supply & distribution*
    Workplace
    Metrics
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