Addressing factors associated with nursing workforce instability: the mediating effect of professional identification between perceived responses to capitalization attempts and job burnout in newly recruited nurses

Introduction Newly recruited nurses are prone to negative emotions and have a high incidence of job burnout due to insufficient work experience and weak ability to handle clinical emergencies. Different modes of perceived responses to capitalization attempts may affect their job burnout through professional identification, and the specific mechanism of action among the three has not been clarified yet. Objectives To explore the mediating role of professional identification between perceived responses to capitalization attempts and job burnout among newly recruited nurses, and to provide theoretical basis and practical reference for burnout intervention in this group. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted. From May to August 2024, 232 newly recruited nurses ( ≤ 2 years of clinical experience) from two tertiary hospitals in Wuhan were selected via cluster sampling. Data were collected using the Perceived Responses to Capitalization Attempts Scale, Professional Identification Scale, and Chinese version of Maslach Burnout Inventory. Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression, and structural equation modeling with bias-corrected bootstrapping were used for analysis. Results Job burnout was negatively correlated with active-constructive ( p < 0.05) and professional identification ( p < 0.01), but positively correlated with passive-constructive, active-destructive and passive-destructive ( p < 0.01). Professional identification was positively correlated with active-constructive ( p < 0.01), and negatively correlated with passive-constructive ( p < 0.05), active-destructive ( p < 0.05) and passive-destructive ( p < 0.01). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that passive-constructive ( p = 0.03) and passive-destructive ( p < 0.001) could positively predict job burnout, while professional identification could negatively predict job burnout ( p < 0.001). The structural equation model showed that professional identification exhibited a complete mediating effect (72.22%) between passive-constructive and job burnout. Professional identification exhibited a partial mediating effect (59.46%) between passive-destructive and job burnout. Conclusion This study reveals, within the Job Demands-Resources and positive psychology frameworks, the mediating role of professional identification in how perceived responses to capitalization attempts affect job burnout in new nurses. The findings offer empirical support for developing targeted strategies to enhance professional identity, reduce burnout, and address factors associated with nursing workforce instability.