Factors predicting proactive work behaviors among nurses: A descriptive predictive study

Abstract Aim This study examined the level of proactive work behavior and predictability of education level, work engagement, transformational leadership of nurse managers, and organizational support on proactive work behaviors among nurses. Background Nurses face many challenges to provide quality nursing care as numbers of patients increase in particular as a result of COVID‐19 and human resource shortages worldwide, this includes Myanmar. Proactive work behavior is a critical factor in providing quality nursing care. Methods We collected data from 183 registered nurses in four university‐affiliated general hospitals in Myanmar by using stratified random sampling. Instruments included the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, the Global Transformational Leadership Scale, the Survey of Perceived Organizational Support, and the Proactive Work Behavior Scale. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression were used to analyze data. Findings are reported according to the STROBE checklist. Results The overall level of proactive work behavior was perceived as moderate. Transformational leadership and work engagement were significant predictors of proactive work behaviors of nurses, explaining 33.0% of the total variance. Conclusion Findings provide that both transformational leadership and work engagement are significant predictors of proactive work behaviors which are important for improving the quality of patient care and organizational outcomes. Implications for nursing and health policy Nurse administrators and hospital directors should encourage nurses to voice ideas for improving the standard of work, provide opportunities for generating ideas, support resources for taking charge and preventing problems whilst also supporting the promotion of nurse managers' transformational leadership and nurses' work engagement.