The association of leader-member exchange and team-member exchange with nurses' innovative behaviours: A cross-sectional study

Liangying Cheng; Wanhong Wei; Jinyan Zhang; Ying Yao; Yanhui Zhang; Weiyan Zhu

doi:10.1111/jan.16121

The association of leader-member exchange and team-member exchange with nurses' innovative behaviours: A cross-sectional study

J Adv Nurs. 2024 Mar 14. doi: 10.1111/jan.16121. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Liangying Cheng¹, Wanhong Wei², Jinyan Zhang³, Ying Yao², Yanhui Zhang², Weiyan Zhu¹

Affiliations

¹ Nursing Department, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
² School of Nursing and Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
³ Nursing Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.

PMID: 38482900
DOI: 10.1111/jan.16121

Abstract

Aim: To measure the association of leader-member exchange and team-member exchange with nurses' innovative behaviours through social exchange theory.

Background: The field of nursing is actively advocating innovation. Other fields have proven that leader-member exchange and team-member exchange can promote innovative behaviour, but such an association is not clear in nursing.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: A total of 560 nurses were selected from five tertiary hospitals in Henan Province (China) by multistage sampling. Data were collected from a self-report questionnaire. Thirty nurses in the pre-survey were used to verify the validity of the questionnaire. SPSS PROCESS macro was used to verify the association of leader-member exchange and team-member exchange with nurses' innovative behaviours.

Results: Leader-member exchange and team-member exchange were significantly associated with nurses' innovative behaviours, and team-member exchange had a mediating effect on the relationship between leader-member exchange and innovative behaviour.

Conclusions: Leader-member exchange and team-member exchange positively affect nurses' innovative behaviours. Leader-member exchange can promote nurses' innovative behaviours through the mediating role of team-member exchange.

Impact: This study indicated that leader-member exchange and team-member exchange should be given more attention in promoting nurses' innovative behaviours. This finding has implications for the promotion of innovative behaviours in nurses. Leaders need to focus on the innovative needs of nurses and offer support. Meanwhile, leadership training programs are necessary for managers to create positive team relationships.

Patient or public contribution: No patient or public involvement.

Keywords: innovation; innovative behaviour; leader-member exchange; management; nurse; social exchange theory; team-member exchange.