Objectives The purpose of the study is to explore the relationships amongst innovative behaviour, self-efficacy, colleague solidarity of nurses and career success of nurses in Mainland China. Method This study used the cross-sectional investigation method and nurses were recruited from eight tertiary hospitals and four secondary hospitals in Tianjin, China. A convenience sample of 848 nurses was included in this survey. Structural equation model analysis was performed as well. Results Results revealed that the nurses' career success score was at the medium degree, whilst innovative behaviour and self-efficacy were in the medium–high level and had high level of colleague solidarity. The four variables include innovative behaviour, self-efficacy, colleague solidarity of nurses and career success; each dimension showed positive correlation ( r = 0.145 to 0.923, P < 0.05). Independent sample T-test showed no significant differences between the two types of hospitals in the main variables ( P > 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that innovative behaviour, self-efficacy and academic solidarity entered the career success regression equation ( β = 0.091 to 0.560, P < 0.05), thereby possibly explaining 52.0% of the total variation. Hierarchical regression analysis and path analysis model showed that self-efficacy and colleague solidarity of nurses played mediating roles between innovative behaviour and career success ( β = 0.132 to 0.221, P < 0.05). Conclusion The level of career success of nurses remains to be improved. Additionally, high innovative behaviour, self-efficacy and colleague solidarity of nurses can improve the career success of Chinese nurses.

Higher perceived structural empowerment, innovative behaviour, and self-efficacy can increase career success of Chinese nurses.

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