Purpose: This study explored emergency nurses’ perception of and experiences with infection control in the emergency department (ED). Methods: This qualitative study employed focus group interviews and conventional content analysis. The participants were 19 nurses working in the ED of three general hospitals in the metropolitan area, and the data collection period was from July 1, 2024, to August 30, 2024. Four focus group interviews were conducted with each group consisting of 4~5 participants. Interviews were conducted for approximately 80 minutes per group. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim immediately afterward. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Results: A total of 167 meaningful statements were extracted from the interviews. Five main themes and 15 subthemes were identified through interview analysis. 1) Limited information with “Limited information at the entrance of the ED” and “Challenges in sharing information”; 2) The gap between guidelines and reality with “Difficulty in adhering to guidelines due to a shortage of isolation rooms”, “Underestimating protective isolation”, “Skepticism due to practical limitations” and, “The need for infection control guidelines to fit ED circumstances”; 3) Application of guidelines that deviated from the principles with “Different nursing practice based on visual judgment”, “Guidelines that were overlooked in emergency situations” and, “Justifying the avoidance of tedious work by claiming to help prevent infection”; 4) Insensitivity to infection with “Performing only pretended infection control”, “Overlooking the importance of protective equipment”, and “Being became insensitive to infection”; and 5) The need to strengthen the organizational culture of infection control with “Interpreting the same guideline differently by individuals”, “The need for support from senior nurses to comply with the guidelines”, and “The need for practical training that reflects the reality of the ED”. Conclusion: ED nurses faced challenges in complying with infection control guidelines in the ED. These challenges were attributed to a combination of physical, structural, and personal factors. A unique feature of this study is its emphasis on the organizational culture of infection control. To improve compliance with infection control guidelines among emergency nurses, it is imperative to improve their physical and structural environment and provide regular practical training. This approach aims to foster an organizational culture that places a strong emphasis on infection control.

본 연구는 응급실 간호사의 폭력경험, 자아탄력성과 직무스트레스정도를 확인하고 관계를 확인하기 위한 서술적 조사연구이다. 본 연구대상은 D시 소재의 4곳과 C시 소재 2곳의 500병상 이상의 응급실에서 근무 중인 경력 1년 이상의 간호사 143명을 대상으로 하였으며, 자료수집기간은 2018년 11월 6일 부터 15일까지이었다. 대상자의 폭력경험은 4점 만점에 평균평점 1.26±1.31점이었고, 자아탄력성은 4점 만점에 2.50±0.55점, 직무스트레스 정도는 5점 만점에 3.62±0.49점이었다. 폭력경험과 직무스트레스 하위영역별 상관관계에서 언어적 폭력 경험은 간호업무(r=.194, p=.010), 역할갈등(r=.158, p=.030) 스트레스와 유의한 양의 상관관계가 있었고, 신체적 위협 경험은 간호업무(r=.200, p=.008), 역할갈등(r=.162, p=.027), 의사와의 갈등(r=.145, p=.042) 스트레스와 양의 상관관계가 있었다. 자아탄력성과 직무스트레스 하위영역별 상관관계에서 간호업무 스트레스는 자아탄력성의 강인함(r=-.189, p=.012), 인내력(r=-.165, p=.025), 낙관성(r=-.186, p=.013) 영역과 음의 상관관계가 있었으며 전문지식 스트레스는 강인함 (r=-.230, p=.003), 인내력(r=-.195, p=.010), 낙관성(r=-.194, p=.010) 영역과 음의 상관관계가 있었고, 간호사 대우 스트레스는 영성(r=.154, p=.033) 영역과 양의 상관관계가 있었다. 폭력경험과 자아탄력성과의 하위영역별 상관관계에서 강인함은 신체적 위협(r=-.150, p=.037) 경험과 음의 상관관계가 있었으며, 인내력은 신체적 위협(r=-.138, p=.050) 경험과 음의 상관관계가 있었고, 낙관성은 신체적 폭력(r=-.151, p=.036) 경험과 음의 상관관계가 있었다. 이상의 결과로 볼 때 응급실 간호사의 직무스트레스 감소를 위해 폭력이 발생하지 않는 안전한 근무 환경을 조성하고, 폭력상황 발생 시의 대처방법에 관한 지속적인 교육 및 스트레스 대처방법, 자아탄력성을 높이기 위한 프로그램개발 및 중재가 필요하다.

Purpose: This study aimed to further understand the experience related to emotional labor among the emergency room (ER) nurses Methods: Data for the study were collected via in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 8 nurses working at ER in tertiary-hospital settings. Conventional content analysis method was adopted. Results: Data analysis revealed 3 categories and 8 major topics on the participants’ experience of emotional labor at ER. The first category ‘the nature of nursing at emergency room’ involves three topics: ‘making quick, smooth interactions with people around ER’, ‘heavy, demanding workloads for ER nurses’, and ‘difficulties embedded in working environment’. The second category ‘rules of emotional expression and management’ includes two topics: ‘norms of emotional expression required for ER nurses’ and ‘work-centered emotional management.’ The last category ‘exhaustion, adaptation, and the sense of reward’ has three topics: ‘burn-out’, ‘recharging and withstanding’, and ‘reeling rewarded’ While experiencing ‘burn-out’ due to the negative effect of emotional labor, participating nurses reported that they also felt the sense of rewarding by restoring positive emotions through proper self-management, positive feedback and social support. Conclusion: The findings show that the nature of ER care required intensive emotional labor from nurses. Thus, it is imperative to provide interventions that assist ER nurses to reduce the negative impact of emotional labor and reinforce its positive influence on their lives, with systemic approaches to reduce the intensity of emotional labor and improve working conditions in ER settings.