The Mediating Role of Job Rotation Between Clinical Leadership Skills and Clinical Decision‐Making Among Jordanian Nurses

BACKGROUND: Nurses in resource-limited settings like Jordan require strong leadership and clinical judgment. Job rotation is believed to improve adaptability and self-efficacy, but its effect on clinical decision-making is unclear. PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine whether job rotation mediates the relationship between clinical leadership skills and clinical decision-making among nurses. METHODS: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted among 395 registered nurses employed in Jordanian governmental hospitals. Participants were recruited using a proportional random sampling technique. Data were collected using validated questionnaires assessing clinical leadership skills, job rotation, and clinical decision-making. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA and regression analysis, were performed to examine relationships among the study variables. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was additionally used to assess mediation effects. FINDINGS: The results showed significant differences between clinical decision-making and gender, marital status, and educational level. Clinical leadership significantly predicted decision-making (β = 0.433, 95% CI [0.331, 0.535], t = 8.226, p < 0.001). In contrast, job rotation indicated no significant direct effect (β = 0.000, 95% CI [-0.052, 0.051], t = -0.010, p = 0.992) and did not mediate the relationship between leadership and decision-making (β = 0.008, 95% CI [-0.041, 0.057], t = 0.325, p = 0.745). CONCLUSION: Leadership skills were significantly associated with nurses' clinical decision-making, and leadership development may play a more substantial role in clinical decision-making than job rotation within this sample. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Job rotation implementation has to be intentional, by putting real effort into structured training, mentoring, and embedding workplace learning into daily routines, which improves decision-making quality, increases professional confidence, and ultimately enhances patient outcomes.