The Humanistic Care Behaviour of Head Nurses and the Influence on Stress and Transition Shock of New Nurses: A Cross‐Sectional Study

AIM: To examine the interrelationships among head nurses' humanistic care behaviour, job rotation stress, and transition shock among new nurses in Southwest China. DESIGN: This study employed a cross-sectional observational research design. METHODS: A total of 1128 new nurses were recruited from ten tertiary hospitals in Guizhou Province between March and September 2022. Participants were assessed using the Transition Shock of Newly Graduated Nurses Scale, Nursing Job Rotation Stress Scale, and the Head Nurses' Humanistic Care Behaviour Scale, and hierarchical regression analysis was used to identify the relationships. RESULTS: Head nurses' humanistic care behaviour was negatively associated with transition shock (r = -0.417, p < 0.01), whereas job rotation stress was positively associated with transition shock (r = 0.731, p < 0.01). Stepwise regression and mediation analyses showed that head nurses' humanistic care behaviour and job rotation stress jointly explained 57.1% of the variance in new nurses' transition shock, with humanistic care behaviour reducing transition shock both directly and indirectly by alleviating rotation stress. These findings underscore the critical role of supportive leadership in easing new nurses' transition into clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: To reduce new nurses' job rotation stress and transition shock, head nurses should receive structured training in humanistic care and incorporate empathetic leadership practices into daily management. Clinical strategies such as fostering emotional communication, offering timely support, and creating a feedback culture can facilitate smoother transitions and enhance nurse retention. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.