Exploring the nexus between perceived organizational support and professional identity among nursing professionals: a mediation-moderation mechanism

BACKGROUND: Professional identity (PI) is essential for nurses' commitment, job performance, and retention. There is, however, limited evidence on the psychological and contextual pathways through which perceived organizational support (POS) influences PI. This study analyzed the associations between POS and PI among Chinese nurses in public hospitals, and studied the mediating role of self-efficacy, which also included the moderating role of organizational culture, based on the Social Exchange Theory and Social Cognitive Theory. METHODS: A study was conducted among 624 nurses in public hospitals in Shandong Province, China. Data were gathered from validated instruments on POS, PI, SE, and OC. The proposed model of mediation and moderation was tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) and bootstrapping analysis. RESULTS: POS was positively associated with both PI (β = 0.410, p < 0.001) and self-efficacy (β = 0.596, p < 0.001). Self-efficacy was also positively related to PI (β = 0.553, p < 0.001). The mediation analysis showed a partial mediation effect of self-efficacy between POS and PI (β = 0.330, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There are two ways in which nurses' PI is influenced by POS, one direct and the other indirect. The results indicate that supportive organizational practices and psychological empowerment are important factors to enhance the nurse's PI. Healthcare managers should establish a positive working culture and interventions that strengthen the self-efficacy of nurses to ensure the sustainability of the nursing workforce and nursing profession.