This study aimed to develop a Korean oriental nursing terminology set for nursing documentation in electronic nursing record systems.

This study was conducted in two steps. The primary terminology set was constructed by extracting terms from textbooks and materials about oriental nursing (2,708 terms). Then the appropriateness of terms as an oriental nursing vocabulary was reviewed by four teams of oriental nursing experts and practitioners. In addition, the frequency of uses of terms was examined in oriental nursing. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics.

Of 2,708 terms, 25.4% (n=688) were evaluated as appropriate and high-use oriental nursing terms by all expert teams. Among the terms, 24.1% (n=166) were nursing action terms representing acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, massage, treatment and observation, medication administration, health promotion, and others. The others (75.9%) were nursing phenomenon terms representing drugs, medical materials, instruments, tests, theories, disease names, syndrome differentiation, and signs and symptoms. The proportion of terms used only in oriental nursing was 52.3%.

A total of 688 terms were identified as appropriate oriental nursing terms, as well as high-use terms. This terminology set can be used for the basic data to develop a formal terminology set in oriental nursing practice.