• Incentives

Financial and non-financial incentives

This discussion paper, from Human Resources for Health , examines the range and influence of economic incentives and disincentives affecting community nurses The author considers if economic incentives and disincentives in community nursing exist, whether they have a perceivable impact and in what areas. Findings show that there is a tendency by nurses to disregard, and in many cases, deny a direct impact of economic incentives and disincentives on their motivation and professional conduct.

The author notes that understanding the value system of community nurses and how they respond to economic incentives and disincentives enables the development of reward systems to be more likely to be relevant and strategic. If nurse rewards are to become more effective organisational tools, the data suggests that future initiatives should: improve nurses' salary or income, such as comparable rates of pay; provide just compensation for job-related expenses , such as petrol or clothing; introduce promotional opportunities within the clinical area, rewarding skill and competence development; and make available a range of direct and indirect financed rewards.[adapted from author]

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