Choice, status and intergroup conflict in the work of trained nursing groups

Abstract

Most patients in hospital fail to distinguish the State Registered Nurse from the State Enrolled Nurse on the wards, except, perhaps by the colour of their uniforms. Yet considerable ‘invisible’ tensions exist between these two groups. Using intergroup relations theory as a framework, this paper discusses the psychological problems associated with the projected amalgamation of these two groups, from data collected from a field and laboratory study.

The choices available to high and low-status nurses are assessed before, during and after training. Persistent lack: of choices and relative deprivation in the low status group are evaluated in terms of their impact on intergroup relations.