Effect of role overload on missed nursing care in China: The role of work addiction and leader-member exchange

Abstract

Aim: The aim was to examine the effect of role overload, work addiction and leader-member exchange on missed nursing care. Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: Chinese registered nurses from five Sichuan province public hospitals were studied from March 2022–May 2022. The measurements were derived from a questionnaire on role overload, work addiction, missed nursing care, leader-member exchange and a sociodemographic datasheet. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were conducted (N = 403). Results: Role overload was associated with missed nursing care, and work addiction played a mediation role. Leader-member exchange negatively predicted work addiction and played a moderating role between role overload and work addiction. The effect of role overload on work addiction was attenuated when the level of leader-member exchange was higher. Promoting leader-member exchange could mitigate how role overload undermines missed nursing care.