Comparing the nurse staffing in Korean and U.S. nursing homes.

Introduction: The quality of nursing home care has been problematic in both the United States and South Korea; quality is limited to inadequate nurse staffing levels. This article addresses how South Korean nursing home education and training requirements, nurse staffing standards, and actual nurse staffing levels compare with those in the United States.

Methods: The study used secondary documents and data to compare the two countries.

Results: Korea has lower registered nurse and certified nursing assistant standards and actual staffing levels than the United States. In contrast, staffing standards and actual staffing levels for care workers who provide direct care to residents are higher in Korea than in the United States.

Conclusions: Research is needed in Korea to establish an empirical basis for educational requirements, staffing standards, and staffing levels in nursing homes.