The intermediary effect of work stress on the relationship between off-duty professional growth and reflective ability among mid- and senior-level clinical nurses.

Abstract

Objective This study seeks to investigate the reflective capacity of mid-to-senior nurses, exploring the influence of off-duty job crafting on reflective capacity through the lens of the Job Demands-Resources (JDR) model. Furthermore, it aims to analyze the mediating roles of challenge and hindrance work stress in this relationship, offering evidence-based insights for nursing managers to devise strategies that enhance reflective capacity Methods A convenience sampling technique was employed to recruit 534 mid-to-senior nurses from three tertiary hospitals in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province. Data collection and analysis were conducted using a general information questionnaire, the Leisure Crafting Scale, the Challenge-Hindrance work Stress Scale, and the Clinical Nurse Reflective Ability Scale. Results The findings revealed that the off-duty job crafting score among clinical nurses was (23.82 ± 9.17), the challenge work stress score was (16.97 ± 6.49), the hindrance work stress score was (16.65 ± 5.44), and the reflective ability score was (56.26 ± 19.09). Reflective ability demonstrated a significant correlation with both leisure crafting and work stress. Challenge and hindrance work stress partially mediated the relationship between off-duty job crafting and reflective capacity, with challenge work stress accounting for 19.7% of the total mediating effect and hindrance work stress contributing 30.80%. Conclusion The study highlights that the reflective ability of mid-to-senior nurses in China is at a moderately low level. Strengthening off-duty job crafting skills, harnessing the positive aspects of challenge-related stress, and mitigating the negative impacts of hindrance stress can significantly enhance reflective capacity, thereby establishing a solid foundation for the ongoing improvement of nursing quality.