Measuring the Nursing Work Environment: Can a Social Capital Framework Add Value?

• Published date: 01 April 2012
• Date: 01 April 2012
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1515/1948-4682.1212

Volume 4, Issue 1 • 2012 • Article 3

Measuring the Nursing Work Environment: Can a Social

Capital Framework Add Value?

Brenda Helen Sheingold, George Washington University

Anne Hofmeyer, University of South Australia

Michael Woolcock, The World Bank

Sheingold, Brenda Helen; Hofmeyer, Anne; and Woolcock, Michael (2012) "Measuring the Nursing

Work Environment: Can a Social Capital Framework Add Value?," World Medical & Health Policy:

Vol. 4: Iss. 1, Article 3.

©2012 Policy Studies Organization

DOI: 10.1515/1948-4682.1212

Measuring the Nursing Work Environment:

Can a Social Capital Framework Add Value?

Brenda Helen Sheingold, George Washington University

Anne Hofmeyer, University of South Australia

Michael Woolcock, The World Bank

Abstract

Background: A suite of robust instruments are required to investigate the range of contextual

and social dimensions in the nursing workforce that contribute to desired outcomes such as resilient

work environments, high retention rates, and provision of quality health care. However current

instruments do not adequately measure the formal and informal social relationships between nurses

and others on the team. This gap is problematic because social relationships can influence how

well nurses work together to achieve the desired outcomes. To this end, instruments from other

disciplines could be adapted to investigate social dimensions.

Purpose: To examine how a social capital framework could measure social relationships in

nursing work environments and inform policy and managerial initiatives to reduce turnover and

improve quality.

Method: Eight contemporary instruments that assess social dimensions and sub-scales in

nursing work environments were reviewed. An instrument that measures social dimensions known

as social capital (networks, norms, outcomes) was also reviewed for adaptation in nursing.

Findings: The eight contemporary instruments do not adequately measure the nature of social

relationships (networks, norms, outcomes) between nurses. A social capital instrument developed

by social researchers and economists could be adapted to add value and understanding of social

relationship issues.

Policy Implications and Conclusions: It is timely to develop robust qualitative and

quantitative instruments that will permit the examination of social capital in nursing populations

globally, and identify mechanisms to achieve desired outcomes, such as job satisfaction, retention,

and quality health care.

KEYWORDS: work environments, social capital, research instruments, policy, nursing

Author Notes: Author acknowledgements: Research reported in this paper was supported in part

by The George Washington University, School of Nursing (BS) and Canadian Health Services

Research Foundation & Canadian Institutes of Health Research CADRE Postdoctoral Fellowship

(AH). Conflicts of interest: None declared. Corresponding author: Brenda Sheingold, Email:

sonbhs@gwumc.edu.