Purpose: An increasing number of foreign-born nurses are working in the United States. Nurses’ job satisfaction is a critical issue for quality patient care. The purpose of this study was to examine factors affecting the job satisfaction of immigrant Korean nurses. Design: We used a cross-sectional mailed survey design. A convenience sample (n = 105) of members of the Greater New York Korean Nurses Association currently working or had previously worked in the United States completed the questionnaires. We used hierarchical regression to test the effects of acculturation and life satisfaction on job satisfaction. Results: Most participants were female (n = 98, 93.3%) aged 27 to 70 years (mean = 52.27 years, SD = 10.67). In the regression model, life satisfaction, self-esteem, and perceived stress predicted job satisfaction (F = 5.127, p < .001) and explained 44.5% of the variance of job satisfaction. Discussion and Conclusion: U.S. nurses need to gain insight into factors influencing job satisfaction in Korean nurses to promote retention and quality care.

We investigated the effect of predisposing, enabling, need factors, and health behaviors on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with multimorbidity according to Andersen’s model. This study is a secondary analysis of population-based cross-sectional surveys. Data from 328 patients with multimorbidity (≥3 co-occurring chronic diseases) from the 6th/7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were analyzed using logistic regression. Patients ≥65 years, without private insurance, with poor subjective health, unmet medical needs, and/or limited activity were more likely to experience mobility problems. Self-care problems were more likely among those without private insurance and/or with limited activity. Patients lacking living security, with poor subjective health, limited activity, and/or who smoked were more likely to experience problems performing usual activities. Pain/discomfort was more likely among females, Medicaid beneficiaries, and patients with limited activity and/or with poor subjective health. Patients with poor subjective health, limited activity, and/or unmet medical needs were more likely to experience anxiety/depression. The investigation of HRQoL in multimorbidity should consider predisposing, enabling, need factors, and health behaviors. Interventions addressing movement restrictions and personalized care based on HRQoL domains should be prioritized.

Lee YJ, et al. J Korean Acad Nurs. 2013 Aug;43(4):526-535. https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2013.43.4.526

This study multidimensionally examines rural elderly women’s subjective barriers to practicing health-promoting behaviors. Twenty-six rural elderly women participated in three focus group interviews. Content analysis and a qualitative research method were used. The results, based on an ecological model, show that the implementation of health-promoting behaviors in rural elderly women was comprehensively related to intrapersonal (functional decline, passive attitude, and lack of implementation), interpersonal (lack of social support), community (restrictive conditions, accessibility issues, and lack of infrastructure), and public policy (lack of policy support) factors. Interventions addressing each factor can help reduce or eliminate the perceived barriers to health-promoting behaviors through interactions. Our findings can contribute to the development of health-promoting programs focused specifically on the socialization of rural elderly women and community-centered health policies in the future.