Civic Groups Demand Complete Reconsideration of PA Nurse System
Call for Strict Qualification Standards and Legal Safeguards
Civic groups have raised criticism against the "Regulations on Nurses Performing Medical Support Tasks," a subordinate ordinance of the Nursing Act, which will take effect on June 21.
Nurses affiliated with the Korean Nurses Association are shouting slogans at the "Rally to Urge Transparency and Legalization of Education and Qualification Management for Nurses Performing Medical Support Tasks," held in front of the Ministry of Health and Welfare at the Government Sejong Complex on the 26th. Photo by Yonhap News
On May 28, several civic organizations, including Mirae Consumer Action, Korea Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Korea Muscular Dystrophy Association, and Norellonanununsam Dure Sori, each issued statements supporting the Korean Nurses Association (KNA) and called on the government to completely reconsider the proposed enforcement regulations.
They collectively stated, "The full implementation of the Nursing Act and the systematic institutionalization of Physician Assistant (PA) tasks can no longer be delayed," and added, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare must not undermine the legislative intent of the Nursing Act and should redesign the enforcement regulations with a focus on public safety and lives."
Mirae Consumer Action said, "The enforcement regulations of the Nursing Act irresponsibly attempt to replace education and qualification management for nurses performing medical support tasks with mere 'notification' and 'certificates of completion.' The state has a responsibility to provide safe medical services to consumers through personnel who meet credible qualification standards and have completed professional training programs."
The Korea Alliance for the Mentally Ill (KAMI) asserted, "The enforcement of the Nursing Act is the starting point for protecting vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people with disabilities. The medical support tasks performed by nurses should not be left to the arbitrary judgment of hospital directors as a temporary measure, but must be operated fairly based on state-certified education and evaluation standards." KAMI also stated that the KNA should be the main body responsible for managing and operating the education for medical support tasks.
The Korea Muscular Dystrophy Association emphasized, "The expertise of skilled nurses and a stable work system are our lifeline. The Ministry of Health and Welfare's plan to leave the management of nurses' medical support tasks to the discretion of medical institution directors is a structure that seriously threatens patients' right to life."
The groups also called for the establishment of legal safeguards and staffing standards for nurses performing medical support tasks. The volunteer organization Norellonanununsam Dure Sori stated, "If the Nursing Act does not institutionally guarantee the professionalism of nurses, patient safety cannot be ensured. The qualification of nurses performing medical support tasks must be granted through credible educational institutions and procedures, with the KNA, as a professional nursing organization, at the center."
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