The Mediating Role of Psychological Capital in the Relationship Between Transformational Leadership and Professional Identity Among Chinese Anesthesia Nurses.

BACKGROUND: Professional identity is crucial to clinical work quality and the career development of medical staff. With the rapid development of anesthesia nursing in China, identifying factors that improve anesthesia nurses' professional identity carries important practical implications for the long-term sustainable development of the anesthesia nursing profession. AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the current level of professional identity among Chinese anesthesia nurses, examine the relationship between transformational leadership and professional identity, and verify the mediating role of psychological capital in this relationship. METHODS: Using convenience sampling, anesthesia nurses from tertiary hospitals in nine provinces and municipalities were recruited from March to June 2024. Data collection involved the General Information Questionnaire, the Transformational Leadership Scale, the Psychological Capital Scale, and the Professional Identity Scale. Path analysis was conducted using AMOS 28.0 software to establish structural equation models. The study was reported following the STROBE checklist. RESULTS: The total scores for transformational leadership, psychological capital, and professional identity were 107.63 (SD = 18.96), 97.59 (SD = 14.06), and 37.18 (SD = 7.97), respectively. The results showed a positive correlation among transformational leadership, psychological capital, and professional identity (all p < 0.01). Additionally, psychological capital was identified as a partial mediator between transformational leadership and professional identity, accounting for 44.06% of the total effect. CONCLUSION: Anesthesia nurses exhibited a moderate level of professional identity. Additionally, psychological capital acted as a partial mediator between transformational leadership and professional identity. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGERS: Nursing managers are recommended to adopt a transformational leadership style and strengthen psychological capital interventions, which can further enhance the professional identity of anesthesia nurses, thereby stabilizing the anesthesia nursing workforce, improving the quality of clinical care, and ultimately promoting the sound development of the anesthesia nursing profession.