Challenge‐Hindrance Stressors and Novice Nurses' Safety Behaviour: The Mediating Role of Regulatory Focus and the Moderating Role of Workplace Spirituality

ABSTRACT Aims This study aims to investigate the impact of challenge‐hindrance stressors on novice nurses' safety behaviour, the mediating effect of regulatory focus, and the moderating effect of workplace spirituality. Background The relationship between challenge‐hindrance stressors and novice nurses' safety behaviour has rarely been investigated, despite the global concern for patient safety in healthcare systems. Previous research suggests that regulatory focus and workplace spirituality matter for nurse safety behaviour, but the relationship between them remains unclear. Methods An on‐site cross‐sectional survey. The STROBE guidelines were followed to report this study. Stratified sampling was used to recruit participants, and 471 novice nurses completed the Nurse Safety Behaviour Questionnaire, the Challenge‐Hindrance Stressors Scale, the Regulatory Focus Scale, and the Workplace Spirituality Scale between January 2024 and May 2024. SPSS 24.0 and SPSS PROCESS 3.5 macros were used to test research hypotheses. Results Challenge stressors positively affect novice nurses' safety behaviour, and promotion focus mediates this relationship. Hindrance stressors negatively affect novice nurses' safety behaviour, and prevention focus partially masks this relationship. Workplace spirituality positively moderates the relationship between challenge stressors and novice nurses' safety behaviour. Conclusion Challenge‐hindrance stressors have a double‐edged sword effect on novice nurses' safety behaviours. Regulatory focus and workplace spirituality play significant roles in the relationship between challenge‐hindrance stressors and novice nurses' safety behaviour. Impact Managers should leverage challenge stressors to boost novice nurses' safety behaviours and enhance their intrinsic motivation through regulatory focus. Additionally, managers should highlight workplace spirituality's importance in coping with work stress. This approach can effectively improve safety behaviours and ensure patient safety. Patient or Public Contribution Patients and the public were not involved in the design and implementation of this study. Clinical novice nurses completed a questionnaire for this study.