# Authentic Leadership and Job Embeddedness Among Clinical Nurses: Mediating Roles of Perceived Insider Status and Organisational Identification

## TL;DR

This study explores how authentic leadership affects job embeddedness in Chinese nurses through perceived insider status and organisational identification.

## Contribution

The study clarifies the chain-mediating effect of perceived insider status and organisational identification in the relationship between authentic leadership and job embeddedness among nurses.

## Key findings

- Authentic leadership positively correlates with job embeddedness through perceived insider status and organisational identification.
- There are three significant indirect pathways linking authentic leadership to job embeddedness.
- Enhancing authentic leadership can improve nurses' commitment and reduce turnover.

## Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of perceived insider status and organisational identification between authentic leadership and job embeddedness among Chinese nurses.

Previous studies have explored the influence of authentic leadership on job embeddedness in the nursing profession. However, the chain‐mediating effect of perceived insider status and organisational identification between authentic leadership and job embeddedness has not been clarified among nurses.

A cross‐sectional study.

A structural equation model was utilised to examine the proposed hypothesis regarding job embeddedness in Chinese clinical nurses and to investigate potential mediating factors influencing nurses' job embeddedness.

There were positive correlations among authentic leadership, perceived insider status, organisational identification, and job embeddedness. Moreover, authentic leadership exerted a noteworthy influence on job embeddedness through three significant indirect pathways: the separate mediating effect of perceived insider status and organisational identification, and the chain mediating effect of perceived insider status and organisational identification.

Nursing managers aiming to enhance nurses' job embeddedness. Recognising the crucial role of perceived insider status and organisational identification as mediators between authentic leadership and job embeddedness, our findings suggest actionable strategies. Elevating authentic leadership creates a supportive environment, positively impacting nurses' commitment and reducing turnover.

We would like to thank the clinical nurses from three hospitals in Wuhan who participated in the study and the hospital managers who supported this study. This study distributed survey links in the WeChat groups of three hospitals, and collected research data under the principle of ensuring anonymity and informed consent.