Job crafting of nurses with postgraduate degrees in China: a province-wide cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: The number of nurses with postgraduate degrees in China is steadily increasing. These individuals often undertake responsibilities beyond basic clinical nursing, and their job crafting abilities play a critical role in advancing the nursing profession. However, research on the job crafting of nurses with postgraduate degrees remains limited. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 356 nurses with postgraduate degrees from 42 hospitals across 17 cities in Hubei Province. The survey utilized a self-designed general information questionnaire, the Change Fatigue Scale, and the Job Crafting Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0, and single-factor analysis and multiple stepwise linear regression were performed to identify factors associated with job crafting. RESULTS: The total job crafting score was 79.49 ± 12.74. Multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis showed that working years, position, hospital type, health status, income satisfaction, and change fatigue were significantly associated with task, cognitive, and relational crafting, explaining 21.4%, 19.6%, and 22.0% of the variance, respectively. CONCLUSION: Postgraduate nurses in China demonstrated an upper-middle level of job crafting. Context-specific strategies, including fair and reasonable salary systems, empowerment opportunities, and psychological support, may help nursing managers support nurses' professional development, well-being, and proactive job crafting behaviors.