Abstract
Purpose: This study aims to identify the wages of nurses and nursing assistants working in integrated nursing care service wards and to explore the factors determining wages for each occupation. Methods: This secondary data analysis utilized statistical data on the monthly average wages by occupation in integrated nursing care service wards, collected by the National Health Insurance Service in 2019. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, wage data from 10,430 nursing staff across 418 institutions were selected for final analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the general characteristics of the nursing staff and their affiliated institutions. Differences in monthly average wages according to general characteristics were analyzed using the KruskalWallis test, one-way ANOVA, t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test. Multiple regression analysis was then performed to identify wage determinants for each occupation. Results: The study found that the average monthly wage was 3,377,000 KRW (±899,000) for nurses and 2,656,000 KRW (±837,000) for nurse assistants. Multiple regression analysis revealed that factors influencing wages for both nurses and nursing assistants included hospital ownership, region, bed occupancy rate, designated nurse staffing level, total years of nursing experience, and employment type. For nurses, working fixed night shifts was also shown to be a significant determinant of their wages. Registered nurses earned 31% more compared to nursing assistants in integrated nursing care service wards. Conclusion: This study identified wage levels of nursing staff in integrated nursing care services. Significant differences in monthly wages were observed according to the general characteristics of the individuals and the institutions. For smooth service expansion, a thorough review of the wage system and consensus on compensation levels for nursing staff are necessary.