Professional Role Identity of Medical Support Nurses in Tertiary Hospitals: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Abstract

Purpose: In South Korea, the healthcare workforce dispute between the government and medical associations in 2024 accelerated the expansion of medical support roles. Since the early 2000s, tertiary hospitals have relied on experienced nurses to perform expanded medical support and care coordination functions within physician-led services; these roles were later and formally referred to as “medical support nurses,” and national efforts are now underway to formalize this role. This study aims to identify the professional identity of medical support nurses by exploring how nurses working in tertiary hospitals perceive and construct their current roles and challenges within the context of the ongoing institutionalization of this role. Methods: Participants were 37 medical support nurses and 7 physicians in an S tertiary hospital in Seoul. Qualitative content analysis based on the approach of Graneheim and Lundman was conducted using data from six focus groups. Results: Three themes emerged: “Pride and Certainty of Being an Essential Professional,” highlighting their bridging and clinical coordination roles; “Ambiguity and Instability due to an Ungranted Professional Position,” reflecting insecurity and identity ambiguity; and “Desire and Desperation of Specialized Professional Settlement,” underscoring the need for recognition, structured education, and career pathways. Conclusion: Medical support nurses may play a vital role in continuity of care; however, they continue to face unclear legal and professional boundaries. Institutionalization—including legal definition, standards for clinical practice, standardized education, and career development—is urgently needed to strengthen the professional identity of medical support nurses and to support workforce policy development for this group.