Does transformational leadership and psychological empowerment improve nurses' innovative behaviour during COVID-19 outbreak? A cross-sectional study

AimsTo investigate the relationships between transformational leadership, psychological empowerment and innovative behaviour among nurses in China. BackgroundThe innovative behaviour of nurses is important to adapt to the changing medical environment. However, there is currently a limited understanding of the relationship between nurses' innovative behaviour and transformational leadership and psychological empowerment during the pandemic. MethodsConvenience sampling was used to conduct an investigation involving 1317 nurses from 10 hospitals in China from January 2022 to April 2022. Data analysis was performed using correlation analysis, univariate analysis and multiple regression analysis. The STROBE checklist was followed when writing this manuscript. ResultsHigh transformational leadership and high psychological empowerment were associated with high innovative behaviour. The results of the multiple linear regression analysis showed that physical condition, whether or not you have attended academic conferences or whether or not you have participated in fund research projects, transformational leadership and psychological empowerment were the main factors on nurses' innovative behaviour, together explaining 64.5% of the total variance. ConclusionPromotion of transformational leadership and psychological empowerment is vital for nurses to promote innovation, thereby meeting the urgent demand for innovative nurses and the rapid development of nursing disciplines. Implications for Nursing ManagementThis study highlights the importance of transformational leadership in developing nurses' innovative behaviours. Understanding the role of psychological empowerment can help nurse managers formulate relevant intervention strategies and cultivate nurses' innovative behaviour.