CONTEXTUALIZING SOCIAL IDENTITY IN CONSIDERATIONS OF WHAT IT MEANS TOBE A NURSE

This paper describes research which provide the context for a discussi on of how social representations can circumscribe identity possibiliti es and render feasible certain groups evaluations. Specifically, a res earch approach is advocated in which Social Identity and Social Repres entation Theory are integrated within single complementary paradigm, ( Breakwell, 1993). A brief but critical examination of both theoretical traditions is offered as the backdrop to this. A case study is descri bed as a means of illustrating the unique potential of the integrated paradigm to predict and explain the meaning of social identity and the evaluations it affords. An investigation is then described involving 178 nurses ranging from Trainee to Charge Nurse status. Nurses were in vited to use efforts to describe the meaning of their group membership . As predicted from having identified the types of social representati on of nurses available, two different identity orientations emerged: a communal-intelpersonal (Patient Centred) and instrumental-intergroup (Professional Distinctiveness). The communal-interpersonal identity or ientation was most typical of the lower status trainee nurses and also female nurses. In turn, higher status nurses and also male nurses, ar ticulated a primarily instrumental-intergroup identity orientation. Th e evaluations signalled by group membership were also predictable from the identity orientations exhibited.