台灣65歲以上的老年人口於2008年底已達240萬2千人,佔總人口數的10.4%。隨著高齡化社會的形成,以及家庭結構改變,以往在家庭接受家人照顧的老人,現在需自費聘請看護或住進機構接受照護。面對老年人口的增加,以及長期照顧機構的快速成長。照顧服務員的需求亦會隨之增加。照顧服務員對自己工作的看法會影響到照護品質。因此本研究的目的是要探討護理之家照顧服務員對自身工作的看法。本研究採用質性研究設計,以深度訪談方式進行資料收集,研究參與者為台中市二家護理之家之照顧服務員,採目的取樣,共訪談15位照顧服務員。訪談後依據訪談錄音文稿進行內容分析後,照顧服務員對自身工作的看法呈現四個類別:(1)半專業工作,(2)良心工作,(3)工作負荷大,及(4)工作困境。本研究的結果能提供護理之家主管及主管機關了解照顧服務員對工作的看法,並提供合適且必要的協助,以提升照護品質。
The percentage of elderly population in Taiwan was 10.4% (about 2,402,000 elders) in 2008. Usually, elders are cared by family caregivers at home. Nowadays, the elders may hire assistants or live in care facilities out-of-pocket due to the aging society and the change of family structure. As the increase of the elderly population and long-term care facilities, the demand for nurse assistants will be increasing. Nurse assistants’ perceptions of their job would influence quality of care. The purpose of this study was to explore nurse assistants’ perception of their job. A qualitative research design was used. Data were collected by in-depth interview. Fifteen nurse assistants of a nursing home in Taichung participated in this study, which used purposive sampling. The interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed for content analysis. Four themes were emerged: (1)semi-professional job, (2)conscience job, (3) heavy workload, and (4)job dilemma. The findings of this study may provide information to administrators of nursing homes and government to understand nurse assistants’ perception of their job. Administrators of nursing homes and government may offer adequate and necessary help to nurse assistants to improve quality of care.