The mediating role of inclusive leadership: Work engagement and innovative behaviour among Chinese head nurses

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between work engagement and inclusive leadership in Chinese hospital head nurses. Besides, it explored the effect of the mediating role of inclusive leadership in the relationship between work engagement and innovative behaviour among Chinese hospital head nurses. Head nurses are essential in the group of registered nurses who are to pass the Chinese licensure examination for nurses. Their work engagement and innovative behaviour are beneficial to improve the quality, efficiency and competitiveness of nursing services. However, little is known about the mediating role of inclusive leadership in the relationship between work engagement and innovative behaviour. In April 2018, a total of 374 Chinese head nurses were surveyed with a Work Engagement Scale, an Inclusive Leadership Scale and an Innovative Behavior Scale. Because the data were normally distributed in our study, Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) was used to conduct the correlation analysis of study variables. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the factors of innovative behaviour. Model 4 of Hayes's (2013) PROCESS macro and Bootstrap method was used to examine the mediating role of inclusive leadership. Inclusive leadership was significantly and positively correlated to innovative behaviour and work engagement (p<0.01). Moreover, work engagement was correlated with innovative behaviour (p<0.01). In addition, hospital level, publishing papers, work engagement and inclusive leadership were the factors of head nurses' innovative behaviour (p<0.01). Inclusive leadership partially mediated the relationship between work engagement and innovative behaviour, accordingly. Work engagement affects innovative behaviour among Chinese head nurses, and inclusive leadership is a mediator in the relationship. We should take measures to improve the leaders' level of inclusive leadership, in order to strengthen head nurses' innovative behaviour. According to the results of the study, the leaders of head nurses should pay attention to improve head nurses' innovative behaviour, inclusive leadership, work engagement, and the quality and competitiveness of nursing.