Testing interaction effects of intellectual capital and burnout on innovative work behaviour of professional nurses

Purpose The present study aims to examine the moderating effect of burnout between intellectual capital and innovative work behaviour of professional nurses. Design/methodology/approach Mixed-method approach was followed that involves conducting both quantitative surveys and qualitative semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data was collected from 844 staff nurses. Interviews were conducted with a total of 20 participants including director of nursing, chief nursing officer, general manager operation, professor cum principal, doctors, nurse educators, ward in charges and staff nurses working with multi, super speciality private and charitable trust hospitals in Mumbai (India). Findings Intellectual capital and burnout (intellectual capital*burnout) interaction increased the proportion of innovative work behaviour from 0.09 to 0.15, an increase of 66.67%. The results also reveal a significant and negative (−0.09) moderating effect of burnout between intellectual capital and innovative work behaviour of nurses. Qualitative findings also could confirm and support that human, structural and relational capital help nurses to be innovative. However, whenever nurses feel a loss of energy, enthusiasm, motivation and exhaustion, they tend to become less innovative and continue only with the routine works. Research limitations/implications This study provides a new implication for multi, super speciality private and charitable trust hospitals management to relook at and reduce the level of burnout to mitigate its adverse effect. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study and findings related to professional nurses working in multi, super speciality private and charitable trust hospitals in India.