Poor hospital work environments are common and are associated with negative outcomes for nurses and quality of care. Improving work environments holds promise for nurse retention and better quality of patient care.

The findings of this study can facilitate both nursing researchers to develop a cultural adaption instrument and policy makers to improve clinical nursing practice. This analysis provides nurse managers with a new perspective to deal with nurses' job satisfaction by taking into account all the attributes that influence it in the nursing field.

Nurses should work with management and policymakers to achieve safe staffing levels and good work environments in hospitals throughout the world.

Aims To establish a model and identify structural relationships between Chinese nurses' perceived social support, self‐efficacy, work stress and burnout. Background The prevalence of burnout among nurses tends to be high worldwide. A better understanding of relationships between the study variables can help hospital managers apply effective programmes to reduce burnout. However, no studies have identified the structural relationships between these variables in one model, simultaneously. Methods We conducted a cross‐sectional survey to complete questionnaires from 444 nurses working in three Chinese general tertiary hospitals. The proposed model was examined by structural equation modelling. Results The proposed model was partially supported by empirical data. The total effect of work stress on burnout was large. Both work stress and the perceived social support moderately and directly affected burnout. Work stress also indirectly affected burnout through perceived social support. Work stress directly influenced perceived social support and self‐efficacy. Perceived social support directly affected self‐efficacy. However, self‐efficacy did not directly influence burnout. Conclusions This study validated a model and identified a deep understanding of structural relationships between the selected variables among Chinese nurses. Implications for Nursing Management Apart from reducing work stressors, hospital managers should utilize more social support strategies when designing intervention programmes to reduce burnout.

The components and measurements identified in this review can be used by nursing administrators to select or evaluate qualified nurses. The multivariables related to nursing competency can assistant hospital administrators to recognize and find effective ways to improve nursing competency.