찾아가는 동주민센터 방문간호사의 감정노동경험

Emotional Labor Experiences of Home Visiting Nurses in Reaching Out Community Centers

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the emotional labor experiences of home visiting nurses in reaching-out community centers focusing on place and gender. Methods: Ten home visiting nurses in Seoul were recruited for the study. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews. Results: First, the change of place is not simply a spatial change from the healthcare institution to the home. The spatial change affects the mission, or role, of the home visiting nurse, and there are also expectations and attitudes about home visiting nurses. During this kind of change, gender specific sociocultural norms and stereotypes affect the emotional labor of home visiting nurses. Second, gender is related to ignorance and violence faced by home visiting nurses. This type of experience increases the emotional labor of theses nurses. Partial amelioration of the working environment cannot solve this situation. Conclusion: This study suggests that institutional and sociocultural changes are needed, in order to transform the asymmetric inter-relationship between home visiting nurses and citizens into an equal inter-relationship.