The Relationship between Social Capital and Nurses’ Performance in Hospitals of Mashhad City, Iran

Introduction: One of the most important issues that managers are facing is the improvement of their staffs’ performance that could improve and increase the productivity of the organization. This study was performed with the purpose of determining the relation between social capital and the nurses’ performance in the Hospitals of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This is an applied and Cross-sectional study performed in 2012. The statistical population included 320 employed nurses of the hospitals of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected using social capital measuring questionnaires designed by the author. The questionnaires were scientifically confirmed and had the Reliability of 84% using Cronbach’s Alpha Test. Data were analyzed using the Spearman test. Results: A significant and direct relationship was found between social capital and 5 of its components (social participation, mutual trust and reciprocity, social networks and perception of the environment) and nurses performance in the mentioned hospitals (p<0.001). Conclusion: managers can improve their staff’s performance and their motivations by recognizing and developing the social capital. Therefore it is suggested that efforts should be made in improving the components of social capital in hospitals, which are one of the most important organizations in providing services.