The purpose of this study was to identify the major trends in research studies in the Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration from 2010 to 2012.

A review using analysis criteria developed by researchers was done of 132 studies published between 2010 and 2012. Research design, participants, research domain, and keywords were analyzed from the Journal of Korean Nursing Administration.

Job satisfaction, stress, organizational commitment, safety, turnover, nursing education, and performance were found to be major keywords. Of the research in the Journal, quantitative methods were used in 93.2% of studies. The major setting and participants were hospitals (58.2%) and nurses (65.5%) respectively. Prevalent analysis methods used were t-test, ANOVA, correlation, regression, chi-square, AMOS, and factor analysis. Major domains in the articles were: controlling, directing, staffing, nursing management education, and professionalism & legal principles.

Through this study, the research trends in nursing administration were identified, but there is a need to include more of the following topics in future research: new concepts in nursing policy, enhanced deliberations of IRB, rationalization of the effects in sample size calculations, theoretical development of planning and organizing, and development of interventions for management support of the nursing management process.