[New Year's Address] Shin Gyeongrim, President of the Korean Nurses Association, "This Year, We Will Definitely Enact the Nursing Act"

Shin Kyung-rim, President of the Korean Nurses Association (Photo by Korean Nurses Association)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Shin Kyung-rim, President of the Korean Nurses Association, expressed her determination on the 2nd in her New Year's address, stating, "In this year of the Black Rabbit, we will definitely achieve the enactment of the Nursing Act."

President Shin emphasized, "The Nursing Act is not a law only for nurses," and stressed, "We will put a full stop to ensure that the license granted to nurses is not a '7-year license' but a 'lifetime license'." She highlighted, "This is a livelihood and reform bill to guarantee the right to receive professional and safe nursing and care services, and the most urgent matter now to properly guarantee the people's right to health under the Constitution is the enactment of the Nursing Act."

She mentioned, "Nurses work not only in medical institutions but also in long-term care facilities, elderly facilities, public health centers, child and disability facilities, and various community institutions, and the demand is continuously increasing," adding, "To respond to new infectious diseases that periodically emerge, such as COVID-19, strengthening public healthcare and a large-scale expansion of healthcare personnel are essential." On the other hand, she expressed concern, "Nurses working on the front lines in medical institutions have been facing a limit situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has lasted for three years," and "Half of the new nurses resign within a year, and the average length of service remains at seven years."

President Shin stressed that the passage of the Nursing Act is urgent to overcome this situation. She said, "I am confident that the Nursing Act will definitely pass the plenary session of the National Assembly this year," and "the expansion of nurses and the enactment of the Nursing Act are immutable propositions of this era."

Finally, President Shin requested, "we ask for continuous interest and cooperation so that the Nursing Act can be passed in the final stages of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the plenary session," and "we ask everyone to unite their strength until the end."