The Relationship of Work Status (in)congruency with Perceived Employer Commitment and Commitment of Community Health Nurses

Using a social exchange framework, we examined the relationship of work status (in)congruency with organization-specific and job-specific aspects of perceived employer commitment and with nurses’ commitment to their organization, to their job, and to their profession. The participants were 1,230 female nurses employed in community health agencies in Canada. Part-time nurses preferring full-time work perceived greater job insecurity and lack of access to development opportunities, but reported the highest level of commitment to their organization and profession. Full-time nurses preferring part-time work perceived less organizational support, reported lowest level of meaning empowerment, affective, normative, and professional commitment, but reported greatest continuance commitment.