Purpose: This study aimed to explore the experiences and perceptions of emergency department (ED) nurses regarding the provision of oral care for patients. Oral care, which is essential for preventing complications such as pneumonia, is often undervalued in ED compared to acute nursing interventions. This study identified the internal and external factors influencing the delivery of oral care to provide evidence-based recommendations for improving nursing practice in high-acuity settings. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using focus-group interviews. Twenty registered nurses with at least one year of ED experience were recruited from a tertiary general hospital. Data were collected from four separate focus groups through semi-structured interviews. The transcribed data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. To ensure rigor, this study followed Lincoln and Guba’s criteria for credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board, and informed consent was obtained from all participants. Results: The analysis yielded 197 meaningful statements, that were categorized into five main themes and thirteen subthemes. (1) Emotional fulfillment: Nurses experienced professional pride, emotional satisfaction, and improved communication with patients and guardians after providing oral care. (2) Decreased intention due to negative experiences: Participants expressed considerable anxiety about unintentional harm, such as mucosal bleeding, aspiration, or physical injury, when patients bit their fingers. (3) Lower priority: Oral care was perceived as a time-intensive task that was often deprioritized owing to life-saving emergencies in high-pressure ED environments. (4) Areas for improvement in high-quality oral care: Nurses highlighted the lack of formal training and specialized tools, emphasizing that standardized guidelines are essential for confident practices. Conclusion: This study identified the internal and external factors that could influence emergency nurses' provision of oral care. The intrinsic satisfaction gained when providing oral care and the positive feedback received from patients are likely to enhance oral care. Conversely, internal conflicts regarding potential harm and negative reactions were identified as factors that could reduce the intention to provide oral care. Providing external support, such as oral care guidelines, education, and appropriate tools, can enhance emergency nurses' intrinsic motivation to provide oral care. To bridge the gap between perception and practice, oral care should be integrated into emergency assessment frameworks such as the airway, breathing, and circulation (ABC) sequence. Implementing simulation-based education may reduce fear of complications, and the provision of specialized suction devices may enhance safety. These findings provide a basis for the development of ED-specific oral care protocols that prioritize infection control and broaden the scope of comprehensive emergency nursing.

서 론
    1. 연구의 필요성
연 구 방 법
    1. 연구설계
    2. 연구참여자
    3. 자료수집
    4. 자료분석
    5. 연구의 엄격성 확보
    6. 윤리적 고려
연 구 결 과
    1. 감정적 성취
    2. 부정적 경험으로 인한 수행 의도 저하
    3. 낮은 우선순위
    4. 질 높은 구강 간호를 위한 과제
논 의
결 론 및 제 언
REFERENCES

• 배정국(서울대학교병원 응급실 간호사) | Bae Jung Kuk (RN, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea)
• 이은빈(서울대학교병원 응급실 간호사) | Lee Eun Bin (RN, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea)
• 윤희제(서울대학교병원 응급실 전문간호사) | Yun Heeje (APRN, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea) Corresponding author
• 최민진(서울대학교병원 응급실 수간호사) | Choi Min Jin (HN, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea)