Mediating effects of artificial intelligence readiness and self-efficacy on innovative behavior in Chinese standardized training nurses: a structural equation model study

BACKGROUND: Innovative behavior is crucial for enhancing clinical efficiency, promoting patient recovery, and advancing the nursing discipline. As an emerging group within the nursing workforce, standardized training nurses represent a key cohort for fostering innovation. Nevertheless, the psychological mechanisms underlying their innovative behavior remain insufficiently explored. In particular, the chain mediating roles of AI readiness and self-efficacy in the relationship between self-directed learning, perceived organizational support, and innovative behavior have yet to be systematically examined. This study aims to address this research gap by investigating the mediating effect of AI readiness and self-efficacy between self-directed learning ability, perceived organizational support and innovative behavior among standardized training nurses. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between January and July 2025 using convenience sampling. Participants were recruited from two tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province and one tertiary hospital in Gansu Province. Data were collected using the following instruments: the General Information Questionnaire, Innovative Behavior Inventory, Medical AI Readiness Scale for Medical Students, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Self-Directed Learning Ability Instrument, and Perceived Organizational Support Scale. Structural equation modeling was performed using AMOS software for analyze the data. RESULTS: The structural equation model exhibited a good fit. Path analysis showed that both self-directed learning and perceived organizational support were directly associated with the innovative behavior. For the self-directed learning pathway, only the sequential indirect effect through AI readiness and self-efficacy was statistically significant (small indirect effect, β = 0.018, 95%CI: 0.004, 0.048); For the perceived organizational support pathway, both the indirect effect through the sequential indirect effect through AI readiness and self-efficacy was statistically significant (small indirect effect, β = 0.014, 95%CI: 0.004, 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: The relationships between self-directed learning, perceived organizational support, and innovative behavior are mediated by AI readiness and self-efficacy. These findings highlight that fostering AI readiness and self-efficacy could be of practical significance in improving innovative behavior of standardized training nurses.