Every Wednesday at 5 a.m., an alarm clock diligently wakes up Hana Lee. She boards a KTX train from Daegu to Seoul, opens her laptop, and starts her day with simple tasks. Hana is a student in the combined Master’s and Doctoral program in Community Health Nursing & Nursing Care System at the College of Nursing on SNU’s Yeongeon Campus. Balancing motherhood and her studies, she also teaches undergraduate students as a lecturer at the College of Nursing.
As a mother and a graduate student, I take pride in this path I’ve chosen, and I deeply respect all the senior researchers who have walked this journey before me.
With fellow nurses (left) / Hana working in the ward (right)
After graduating from the Department of Nursing, Hana worked as a nurse at Seoul Asan Medical Center for seven years. During her time there, she felt how closely life and death are intertwined.
“When my grandmother passed away, I came to a heavy realization that the reality I faced in the hospital also applied to me and my family. Around that time, I started reflecting deeply on the profound meaning of a nurse’s work beyond just treating illnesses.”
Master's Degree Ceremony in Public Health
Hana divides her time carefully, as she has to raise children while attending graduate school.
Hana often worried about whether patients who were discharged were staying healthy and whether they remembered how to take their medication. "When patients are discharged and return home, that home becomes part of what we call the community. I found myself wondering if they were taking their medication as instructed and became increasingly curious about how people manage health, illness, and aging in their daily lives. That’s what sparked my growing interest in public health.“
While living in Jamsil, Hana commuted between Gwanak Campus and Seoul Asan Medical Center, eventually earning her master’s degree in public health in 2018. After graduating from the Graduate School of Public Health, Hana got married. Yet, she found herself missing the field of nursing and wanted to delve back into it, starting from the fundamentals.
"When I enrolled in the combined Master’s and Doctoral program in 2021, I was already expecting my first child. I worried about whether I could manage hospital work, academics, and parenting all at once. I reluctantly decided to leave the hospital, where I had worked for many years, and instead joined a full-time research position. It was a valuable time to gain diverse research experience.“
Hana's two children (left) / Studying with her children (right)
With her first child to care for, Hana had to move to Daegu to get support from her parents. On days when she had classes, she commuted back and forth between Daegu and Seoul on the KTX train. Hana’s two children are 14 months and 32 months old. Her three-year-old even knows the word “research,” a testament to how much she continues her academic work at home. However, on particularly busy days, she can only sit in front of her computer after putting the kids to bed.
"After giving birth to my first child, I submitted a revised paper from the postpartum care center. Perhaps it was an opportunity for me, as classes were held online due to COVID-19, allowing me to continue my studies without taking a leave of absence. With my second child, I had to take a semester off since the due date fell in the middle of the semester, but now I’m already in my final semester. It would be a lie to say I have no regrets. Sometimes I wonder, why am I putting myself through this? I could have taken a longer break and resumed my studies later. In reality, many moms and graduate students experience career interruptions due to parenting and childbirth. But I decided to keep going, to not stop and give it my best shot. My family’s support has been a tremendous source of strength. Life is incredibly precious and miraculous. Experiencing the pregnancies and births of my two children has strengthened my belief in the value of care. This is the core reason I chose to study community health nursing.“
Hana's father and her first child (left) / Her grateful mother-in-law (right)
Hana’s parents help with daycare drop-offs and pick-ups, while her in-laws look after her second child when she goes to Seoul for classes. "My father, who retired as a PE teacher, is now famous in our apartment complex as the ‘stroller grandpa.’ I am incredibly grateful to both sets of parents—words cannot express it. At the College of Nursing, there are others who are raising children while conducting research, so we share a lot of understanding and empathy. My professors and fellow researchers also offer me constant encouragement."
These days, Hana is conducting research on home nursing. Among nurses, there are home care specialists recognized under medical law, including 13 specialties such as anesthesia, pediatrics, geriatrics, and oncology. For patients who require continued care after discharge, nurses visit homes to provide care. Those interested can apply for home nursing services through Seoul National University Hospital’s Home Nursing Program.
"There are many patients who require artificial respiration via tracheostomy tubes or are too weak or frail for their caregivers to bring them to the hospital. Home care specialist nurses independently assess and provide basic nursing care. They deliver essential services like urinary catheter changes and oxygen therapy to patients in need of care.“
Balancing academics, research, and caring for two children is always a challenge, but it has made me a more systematic and efficient person.
Hana also has a habit of attending various seminars and carefully reading emails and bulletin boards. She says exploring a wide range of information sometimes introduces her to new research methodologies or inspires her, even if the topics aren’t directly related to nursing.
"In South Korea, 38% of people wish to spend their final days at home, but in reality, 75% pass away in hospitals or nursing homes. The quality of death at the end of life is often very poor. I’m researching ways for patients to exercise autonomy and prepare for a dignified death." Hana is currently working with Professor Kyung Mi Woo on end-of-life care research.
This November, Hana was selected as a recipient of the Global Women’s Leadership Scholarship awarded by the SNU Women Faculty Council. This scholarship supports future female leaders, focusing on international students and those balancing childcare and academics.
“In a way, parenting and studying are simply my responsibilities, so receiving this scholarship feels like an honor and a blessing. I couldn’t have managed without my family’s help, and my advisor, who is also raising two sons, has been incredibly understanding. Thinking of this as a recognition on behalf of graduate students juggling both parenting and academics gives me a sense of pride and a greater sense of responsibility.”
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my parents, in-laws, and husband throughout the entire process.
Hana keeps herself fit with weekly pilates sessions and spends her weekends with her children. When asked about her future plans, she shared: “I want to become ‘someone’ who truly embodies care in the community. I’m not yet sure if that person will be a practitioner or a researcher, but I’m committed to running toward that vision.” As a young girl, Hana dreamed of becoming a nurse, a vision she nurtured as she grew. She admits her daily life is rewarding yet occasionally overwhelming. But with her warm and positive outlook, Hana continues to grow as a mother of two, a nurse, and a researcher. We eagerly look forward to seeing her become the ‘someone’ she aspires to be.
Read in Korean: https://bird.snu.ac.kr/story/99