Entrepreneurial leadership, nurses’ proactive work behavior, and career adaptability: a structural equation model

Abstract

Background Healthcare organizations with practitioners who exhibit proactive work behavior and career adaptability acquire a competitive advantage in the face of many adversities. Entrepreneurial leadership (EL) is a new leadership approach that has a huge impact on followers’ behavior, although research into its theory and empirical evidence is still in its infancy. Methods A non-probability convenience sample methodology (n = 450) was utilized to choose study participants, who were equally dispersed among the two private hospitals in Alexandria. A cross-sectional study was carried out in all departments of the hospitals, which were chosen at random using a simple random procedure. Three validated scales were used in this study to measure the study variables and establish a structural equation model. Results The result of this study revealed that nurses perceived moderate mean scores of all variables; entrepreneurial leadership (140.84 ± 11.94), proactive work behavior (46.02 ± 5.85), and career adaptability (85.55 ± 10.35). In addition, the structured equation model revealed a goodness fit index and presents that entrepreneurial leadership significantly affects nurses’ proactive work behavior with an estimated β of 0.555, coefficient of regression C.R. of 4.006, at P value < 0.001. Also, it significantly affects career adaptability with an estimated β of .834, a coefficient of regression C.R. of 3.491 at P value < 0.001. Conclusions The developed structural equation model confirmed the significant impact of entrepreneurial leadership (EL) on nurses’ proactive work behavior (PWB) and career adaptability (CA)”. Therefore, this study offers important implications for nurse managers, staff nurses, hospital human resources management practice, and academics.