Regulatory focus as a mediator in the relationship between nurses' organizational silence and professional identity

Abstract Aims This work aims to analyse the current state of the professional identity of Chinese nurses; examine the relationship amongst regulatory focus, organizational silence and professional identity and determine how regulatory focus affects the relationship between professional identity and organizational silence. Design This study conducted a cross‐sectional survey. Methods From June to August 2023, 420 nurses from six hospitals in Hunan Province, China, were selected through convenience sampling and surveyed by using a general information questionnaire, the regulatory focus scale, the organizational silence scale and the professional identity scale. The relationship amongst the regulatory focus, organizational silence and professional identity of nurses was examined by utilizing SPSS 25.0 and the mediating role of regulatory focus between organizational silence and nurses' professional identity was examined by applying AMOS 24.0. Results Nurses had a moderate level of professional identity. Professional identity was positively correlated with regulatory focus and negatively correlated with organizational silence. Regulatory focus was negatively correlated with organizational silence. Mediation effect studies revealed that organizational silence and professional identity were partially mediated by regulatory focus. Conclusion In accordance with research showing that nurses' organizational silence can indirectly affect professional identity via regulatory focus, clinical nursing managers should concentrate on the interaction amongst these three variables to strengthen professional identity. Impact The results of this study serve as a reminder to nurses to select a preventive or promotive focus based on their career objectives and to effectively express their views to enhance their professional identity. This also reminds nursing managers assess nurse‐led regulatory focus, identify their underlying qualities and understand their professional aspirations and career orientation, create a good atmosphere for advice and encourage nurses to express their views, so as to improve nurses ‘professional identity. Patient or Public Contribution No patient or public contribution.