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| Research article summary (published 27 Feb 2003): |
The psychological contracts of National Health Service nurses.
Full Abstract
AIMS:
Following the psychological contract model of the employee-employer exchange relationship is offered as a means of understanding the expectations of a UK sample of 223 National Health Service (NHS) nurses in association with their leaving intentions.
DESIGN AND METHODS:
A pilot study involving 21 NHS nurses, using the repertory grid technique was conducted to elicit contract expectations. Twenty-nine categories of expectation were identified through content analysis. The study proper, employed a survey developed on the basis of results from the pilot study to identify contract profiles among 223 nurses from three London/South-east NHS hospitals, using the Q-sort method. Type of contract held (relational/transactional), satisfaction (job and organization), and leaving intentions were also examined.
RESULTS:
Q-analysis yielded four contract profiles among the nurses sampled:
'self-development and achievement'; 'belonging and development'; 'competence and collegiality' and 'autonomy and development'. Correlation analysis demonstrated that leaving intentions were associated with a need for personal autonomy and development, and the violation of expectations for being appreciated, valued, recognized and rewarded for effort, loyalty, hard-work and achievement, negative endorsement of a relational contract, positive endorsement of a transactional contract, and job and organizational dissatisfaction.
CONCLUSION:
Findings illustrate the diagnostic utility of the term psychological contract for understanding the expectations of NHS nurses. The potential significance of these findings for managing nurse retention is highlighted.
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Author information
Author/s: Purvis, Lynne J (LJ); Cropley, Mark (M);
Affiliation: Department of Psychology, School of Human Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 5HX, UK. l.purvis(-atsign-)surrey.ac.uk
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article
Journal: Journal of nursing management (J Nurs Manag), published in England. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2003-Mar; vol 11 (issue 2) : pp 107-20
Dates: Created 2003/02/12; Completed 2003/03/28; Revised 2004/11/17;
PMID: 12581399, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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