Legal forum: the employee contract

Nurse executives face increasing demands on their abilities to assist the health care institution to meet its corporate objectives. These demands are no different from those faced by many other corporate executives. In this changing environment, nurse executives should consider the need for a written employment contract. Fairly drawn employment contracts can serve a useful purpose for both the institution and the nurse executive. By setting forth in a comprehensive fashion the respective rights and obligations of each party, these agreements can protect the institution's and the employee's interests. The terms on which the nurse executive is retained by the institution should not be left to chance or oral agreement.