Perceived Managerial Care, Feedback‐Seeking Behavior, and Reflective Ability in New Nurses: A Three‐Wave Longitudinal Mediation Study
Objective This study aimed to examine the association between perceived managerial care and reflective ability in newly graduated nurses and to investigate the longitudinal mediating role of feedback‐seeking behavior, providing a theoretical basis for managerial interventions. Background Reflective ability is a critical competence for newly graduated nurses to adapt to complex clinical environments and promote professional development. Managerial care has been shown to influence nurses’ learning‐related behaviors; however, the longitudinal mechanisms through which perceived managerial care enhances reflective ability remain unclear. Design A three‐wave longitudinal survey design was employed, with data collected at three time points (T1, T2, and T3) over 6 months. Methods Newly graduated nurses from 10 tertiary general hospitals in China were recruited using simple random sampling. Validated scales were used to assess perceived managerial care, feedback‐seeking behavior, and reflective ability. Structural equation modeling and bootstrapping analyses were conducted to examine longitudinal mediation effects. Results Perceived managerial care, feedback‐seeking behavior, and reflective ability were positively correlated at T1, T2, and T3 (p < 0.01), with mean scores increasing over time. Feedback‐seeking behavior played a significant longitudinal mediating role between perceived managerial care and reflective ability, accounting for 44.02% of the total effect. The structural equation model showed acceptable fit indices. Conclusion Feedback‐seeking behavior mediates the relationship between perceived managerial care and reflective ability in newly graduated nurses. Strengthening managerial care and encouraging feedback‐seeking behaviors may effectively promote reflective ability and support early career development. Implications for Nursing Management The findings suggest that nursing managers may enhance new nurses’ reflective ability by fostering supportive managerial environments and encouraging feedback‐seeking behavior. Strengthening managerial care and establishing effective feedback mechanisms could facilitate professional development and improve early career adaptation among new nurses.