What factors affect job embeddedness among clinical nurses? A structural model design

Abstract

Abstract Background This study adopted a model-building research approach to analyze the factors affecting clinical nurses’ job embeddedness and explore the pathways to increase their embeddedness. The results are expected to provide a basis for efficient human resource management in hospitals. Methods Participants were 260 clinical nurses with less than one year of experience in general and tertiary general hospitals in G province and D metropolitan city in South Korea. A structured questionnaire was administered from January 10 to February 28, 2022. The variables analyzed included role conflict, positive psychological capital, social support, job crafting, and job embeddedness. Results The direct and total effects (both β = .806, p = .007) of positive psychological capital on job crafting were significant. The direct and total effects (both β = .451, p = .004) of social support on job crafting were significant. The direct (γ = .292, p = .055), indirect (γ = -. 671, p = .003), and total (γ = − .379, p = .008) effects of role conflict on job crafting were significant. The direct (γ = − .382, p = .007), indirect (γ = − .208 p = .003), and total (γ = − .589, p = .006) effects of role conflict on job embeddedness were significant. The direct and total (both β = .548, p = .005) effects of job crafting on job embeddedness were significant. Conclusions Nurses’ job embeddedness is directly influenced by their job crafting, which is shaped by high levels of positive psychological capital and social support. When job crafting takes place, role conflict increases, and if job crafting becomes difficult because of severe role conflict, job embeddedness decreases. Therefore, to increase job embeddedness among clinical nurses, hospitals must implement support systems and programs to increase job autonomy, positive psychological capital, and social support to promote job crafting.