探索台灣中醫護理師的角色——專業或助理

The Role of the Chinese Medicine Nurse in Taiwan: Professional or Assistant?

作者藉由親身參與第一線的中醫護理工作，了解目前中醫護理的實際工作內容，發現中醫護理學習與實務間存在的落差。隨後訪談工作場域中的醫師、護理師與病人，並查考醫院制度面及法規面的要求。發現中醫師在執行業務時需要的是「助手」；病人需要的是能夠熟練的幫助他們就診、完成治療、取藥，並且態度良好的服務人員；而護理學者專家們為了落實「醫護分業」，在「中醫藥委員會」的協助下，設計出中醫護理的訓練與執業範圍。但第一線工作人員執業時大部分時間在執行行政工作，健康問題評估、預防保健措施、指導與諮詢都極少有時間涉入。作者藉由此文提出目前第一線中醫護理師專業功能發揮受限的困境與矛盾，並建議朝「職務分工」、「回歸專業」、「中醫護理納入護理課程」三個方向努力，以使中醫護理有更美好的未來。

Personal participation in first line Chinese medicine nursing practice made the author aware of a significant gap between learning and practice in traditional Chinese medicine nursing. For this paper, she interviewed physicians, nurses and patients, researched hospital system and regulatory requirements. She found that “an assistant” is what Chinese medicine physicians expect of nurses, while patients expect a nurse to be able to help them complete treatment while having a good attitude. In order to distinguish clearly nursing from medicine, nursing scholars, with the help of the Chinese Medicine Committee have designed a Chinese medicine nursing training program. Administration is the main content of front-line nurses in this field. They typically have limited responsibilities related to health problem assessment, prevention, or providing guidance / advice. This article raised difficulties and contradictions between the role and practice of Chinese medicine nurses. Three suggestions are provided, including: clearer demarcation of job responsibilities; renewed respect for nurses as professionals; and including traditional Chinese medicine nursing into the formal nursing curricula in order to support a better future for Chinese medicine nurses.