In this study, we provide significant insights into the complex interrelationships among challenge stress, work rumination, information literacy, and innovative behavior among Chinese nurses. Our study elucidates the multifaceted influence of challenge stress on innovation, and sheds light on the divergent consequences of affective rumination and problem-solving pondering. Furthermore, we underscore the significance of information literacy in moderating these associations. Consistent with prior research, we have identified a positive correlation between challenge stress and the manifestation of innovative behavior. This finding suggests that, under moderate levels of stress, creativity and innovation can be effectively amplified [24]. Our regression analysis revealed that, when considering the mediating effect of work rumination, there exists a detrimental direct impact of challenge stress on innovative behavior. This highlights the fact that challenge stress can have both positive and negative impacts on innovation, contingent upon its intensity and duration [25, 26]. Healthcare organizations must strive to strike a delicate equilibrium whereby they foster a stimulating environment for nurses that presents them with ample challenges, all while implementing measures to mitigate the adverse consequences of excessive stress on their overall well-being and capacity for innovation.
Work rumination has been identified as a noteworthy mediating factor in the relationship between challenge stress and innovative behavior. Affective rumination was found to have a negative indirect impact, while problem-solving pondering had a positive indirect impact. These findings align with recent studies that highlight the diverse impacts of various forms of work-related rumination on employee outcomes [41, 42]. Affective rumination, characterized by negative emotional experiences, hinders innovative behavior by depleting cognitive resources and fostering a pessimistic outlook [27, 43]. In contrast, engaging in problem-solving deliberation, which involves thoughtful reflection on work-related issues, can contribute to the development of innovative behavior by facilitating creative problem-solving and idea generation [9, 28]. Encouraging nurses to assume ownership of problem-solving processes, along with providing them with essential resources and dedicated time, can facilitate the development of sustainable solutions to recurrent issues in patient care [30].
The moderated mediation analysis revealed that information literacy plays a pivotal role in enhancing the relationship between work rumination and innovative behavior.
Nurses with a higher degree of information literacy demonstrated a more pronounced correlation between work rumination and innovative behavior, in contrast to individuals with lower levels of information literacy. This finding underscores the importance of equipping nurses with the requisite abilities to effectively process and utilize work-related information. This, in turn, will bolster their capacity for innovation [31, 32]. Information literacy enables nurses to effectively identify, evaluate, and apply relevant knowledge, thereby enhancing their problem-solving capabilities and fostering creative thinking in challenging situations.
In today's constantly evolving healthcare landscape, nurses must possess the essential skill of information literacy. This skill is of paramount importance in effectively implementing evidence-based practice, particularly as healthcare technologies continue to progress [33]. In order to enhance the information literacy skills of nurses, it is recommended that nursing programs give priority to integrating information literacy into practice. This can be accomplished by fostering collaboration between nursing educators and librarians [34, 35]. This integration should be considered a vital component of the nursing curriculum, placing emphasis on the cultivation of skills and their practical implementation [36]. To improve proficiency in these skills, one can adopt strategies such as engaging in interdisciplinary collaborations and utilizing online tools for database searching [37, 38]. The information practices of professional nurses should also inform the content and delivery of information literacy education [39].
This study carries substantial implications for both the practice of nursing and healthcare organizations. Managers should acknowledge the potential advantages of challenge stress in promoting innovative behavior, but they should also be aware of its negative consequences when it becomes excessive or prolonged [25]. Interventions aimed at promoting problem-solving reflection among employees, as opposed to becoming entrenched in negative emotions, can contribute to the establishment of a work environment that is more conducive to innovation [46]. Investing in training programs and providing sustained support can significantly enhance the information literacy skills of nurses. Consequently, this can empower them to effectively navigate intricate information environments and foster the development of innovative practices [47].
Our study has several limitations that warrant consideration. First, the utilization of a cross-sectional design in this study precludes us from establishing causal inferences regarding the interplay between challenge stress, work rumination, information literacy, and innovative behavior. In order to ascertain the causal and temporal dynamics of these relationships, it is imperative for future research to employ longitudinal or experimental designs. Second, although we have effectively recruited a substantial number of nurses from different regions and hospital settings in China, the implications of our findings in various healthcare contexts and cultures remain uncertain. To establish the reliability and generalizability of our results, it is imperative to undertake replication studies encompassing diverse populations and settings. Third, our study relied on self-reported measures, which may be subject to response bias, social desirability, and common method variance. While we assured participants of anonymity and confidentiality to minimize these biases, future research could benefit from incorporating objective measures of innovative behavior and work performance.Fourth, although our study found that work rumination acts as a mediator and information literacy functions as a moderator in the link between challenge stress and innovative behavior, we did not examine other potential variables that could have a mediating or moderating role. It is recommended that future research investigates additional individual, interpersonal, and organizational factors that may impact the relationship between stress and innovation among nurses.