Contractual issues for faculty practice

Contracts are a common foundation for faculty practice relationships betwee n a college of nursing and other agencies. Although the legal format of a c ontract is relatively standardized, the process of contracting entails deci sions and issues that increase its complexity. Little is available in the f aculty practice literature that addresses contracts and contractual issues as a comprehensive whole. This article contains discussions of nursing facu lty practice contractual issues such as the elements of a contract as a fra mework, including competent parties, offer, consideration, and acceptance. Evaluation of contract performance is addressed and alternatives for decisi on making and problem resolutions are suggested throughout. Copyright (C) 2 001 by W.B. Saunders Company.