Objective To determine the citizenship behavioural dimension exhibited by nurses working in public hospitals and to assess the behaviours shown based on personal characteristics of the employees.

Material and method 291 nurses working in Northern Region Public Hospitals were included within scope of the study. A form composed of the criteria measuring socio-demographical properties of the research participants and OCB (Organisational Citizenship Behaviour) scale were used as data collection tool. The questionnaire form consists of 32 questions in total together with the form also containing socio-demographic properties. The expressions used in the scale were composed with equally spaced Likert type. “5” refers to the highest approval situation perceived, “1” refers to the lowest approval situation when evaluating the expressions contained in the scale.

Findings In the assessments according to the working manner; Benevolence, Conscientiousness, Virtuousness and Total OCB average points were found to be significantly higher for nurses who work only during daytime compared to those who keep watch (p < 0.05). Benevolence and Gentlemanliness average points were found to be higher for married employees compared to singles (p < 0.05). Average points at all sub-dimensions were found to significantly higher for those who have managerial duties and pleased with their jobs (p < 0.05). Conscientiousness, Virtuousness and Total OCB average points were found to be significantly higher for those who have willingly preferred this job compared to those who have not preferred (p < 0.05). Kindness average points were found to be significantly higher for women employees compared to men (p < 0.05).

Conclusion The institutions must attach importance to job satisfaction matter in order to have an employee profile with citizenship conscientiousness in their enterprises, who are embracing their institutions much more, struggling to improve their job, making effort to facilitate their colleagues as well as their own job.