Health and Medical Workers' Union: "Shifting Work to Nurses... Shrimp Backs Break in Government-Doctor Conflict"

"Surgery Canceled, Nurses Also Forced into Unpaid Leave"

The government’s expansion of nurses’ scope of work as a measure against medical service gaps is causing the reality of nurses’ work overload. On the 8th, Choi Hee-seon, chairperson of the Health and Medical Workers' Union, appealed, "We have been directly hit by doctors' collective medical refusal," adding, "Doctors' tasks are being transferred to nurses as if it is natural."

Chairperson Choi said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that "the shrimp's back is breaking in the strong-arm fight between the government and doctors," and "patients whose surgeries are canceled, chemotherapy delayed, or who have to leave the emergency room due to the absence of doctors project all their dissatisfaction onto nurses." She continued, "At first, it was said that the medical service gap would last only 2 to 3 weeks, but it has already exceeded 3 weeks," and added, "The most worrisome thing is that patients are not receiving timely treatment or surgery."

On the 7th, a notice of ward closure was posted at the entrance of a university hospital ward in downtown Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

She also expressed concerns about the government's policy to expand nurses' scope of work. Chairperson Choi said, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare states that the scope of work will be clarified and that the final responsibility lies with the head of the medical institution," but "since lawsuits can be filed not only against medical institutions but also individuals, nurses who have taken on doctors' roles cannot avoid lawsuits." She added, "Nurses feel anxious while working and may ultimately become illegal medical practitioners."

She further emphasized that the biggest problem is the inability to guarantee patient safety. Chairperson Choi pointed out, "A nurse becomes a specialized nurse after more than three years of practical experience, completing educational courses, and passing qualification exams," but "currently, PA (Physician Assistant) nurses have not undergone such educational courses or obtained certifications." She also noted, "Utilizing general nurses as PA nurses and transferring many tasks such as anesthesia administration is extremely dangerous."

With bed and operating room utilization rates falling below 50%, nurses without work are being forced to take leave. Since most of this leave is unpaid, nurses are placed in situations where they must worry about their livelihoods. Chairperson Choi appealed, "As wards are closed or bed utilization rates drop to 30-50%, nurses are being forced to use annual leave, unpaid leave, or unpaid suspension." She added, "Since this situation was not caused by our fault, if rest is absolutely necessary, it is appropriate to provide leave allowance, but hospitals are currently facing medical losses," and said, "No one knows when this will end, but there are people who need to sustain their livelihoods."

Meanwhile, the government, concerned about the prolonged medical service gap, issued supplementary guidelines regarding nurses' scope of work. Starting today, tasks will be assigned according to proficiency and qualifications, categorized as 'specialized nurses, dedicated nurses (clinical assistant nurses), and general nurses.' Nurses will be able to perform various medical acts under the responsibility of the head of the medical institution, excluding five prohibited acts specified by the Supreme Court precedent such as death diagnosis, and nine others including X-ray imaging, proxy surgery, general anesthesia, and prescription of specialized medicines.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.