ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Positive spiritual climate supports transformational leadership as means to reduce nursing burnout and intent to leave
Xiaxin Wu RN,
Mark Hayter PhD,
Amanda J Lee RN, PhD,
Yuan Yuan RN,
Shuang Li RN,
Yaxin Bi RN,
Lu Zhang RN,
Chaoyu Cao RN,
Weijuan Gong PhD,
Yu Zhang RN,
Xiaxin Wu RN
Student Nurse
School of Nursing, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Search for more papers by this authorMark Hayter PhD
Professor
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, UK
Search for more papers by this authorAmanda J Lee RN, PhD
Associate Dean
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, UK
Search for more papers by this authorYuan Yuan RN
Director
Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Search for more papers by this authorShuang Li RN
Student Nurse
School of Nursing, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Search for more papers by this authorYaxin Bi RN
Student Nurse
School of Nursing, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Search for more papers by this authorLu Zhang RN
Student Nurse
School of Nursing, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Search for more papers by this authorChaoyu Cao RN
Junior Sister
Yangzhou University Affiliated Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, China
Search for more papers by this authorWeijuan Gong PhD
Professor
School of Nursing, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Yu Zhang RN
Associate Professor
School of Nursing, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Correspondence
Yu Zhang, School of Nursing, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorXiaxin Wu RN,
Mark Hayter PhD,
Amanda J Lee RN, PhD,
Yuan Yuan RN,
Shuang Li RN,
Yaxin Bi RN,
Lu Zhang RN,
Chaoyu Cao RN,
Weijuan Gong PhD,
Yu Zhang RN,
Xiaxin Wu RN
Student Nurse
School of Nursing, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Search for more papers by this authorMark Hayter PhD
Professor
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, UK
Search for more papers by this authorAmanda J Lee RN, PhD
Associate Dean
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, UK
Search for more papers by this authorYuan Yuan RN
Director
Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Search for more papers by this authorShuang Li RN
Student Nurse
School of Nursing, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Search for more papers by this authorYaxin Bi RN
Student Nurse
School of Nursing, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Search for more papers by this authorLu Zhang RN
Student Nurse
School of Nursing, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Search for more papers by this authorChaoyu Cao RN
Junior Sister
Yangzhou University Affiliated Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, China
Search for more papers by this authorWeijuan Gong PhD
Professor
School of Nursing, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Yu Zhang RN
Associate Professor
School of Nursing, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Correspondence
Yu Zhang, School of Nursing, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorFunding information
The study was funded by Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (KYCX18_2384), China, and Program of International Academic Exchange for Postgraduate Students of Yangzhou University, China.
Abstract
Aim
To explore the relationship between spiritual climate and transformational leadership, and examine their impact on nurses perceived emotional exhaustion and intentions to quit.
Background
Transformational leadership is known to have a significant positive effect on work environment and job satisfaction. Additionally, promoting spiritual climate amongst staff can benefit workers by increasing self-worth. The relationship between the two is unknown.
Methods
Nurse clinicians from 2 sites in the Jiangsu Province of China completed self-report questionnaires based on spiritual climate, emotional exhaustion, clinical leadership and Turnover Intention Scales. Mediation analysis was applied to evaluate impact of spiritual climate.
Results
Perceived positive spirituality amongst nurse clinicians reinforces transformational leadership to reduce emotional exhaustion (indirect effect of −0.089, p < .01). Burnout and intention to leave showed significantly positive correlation with lower levels of perceived spirituality (r = .545, p < .01).
Conclusion
Transformational leadership in the workplace can reduce nurses' burnout, and a positive spiritual climate increases meaningfulness in their work. This may help in nurse retention.
Implications for Nursing Management
Health care leaders must look beyond transformational leadership to maintain a positive and supportive clinical climate, and this may involve acknowledgement of nurses' spiritual needs.
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