The relationship between nurse managers' empowering behaviors and nurses' work engagement: a latent profile analysis

AimsTo explore the latent profiles of nurse managers' empowering behaviors in Chinese tertiary general hospitals and to analyze differences in nurse work engagement across these profiles, providing evidence for targeted nursing management interventions.DesignA cross-sectional study.MethodsParticipants were 447 clinical nurses recruited from three hospitals in Shandong Province, China. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Nurse Managers' Empowering Behavior Scale, and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9). Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify distinct profiles of empowering behaviors. One-way ANOVA was applied to compare work engagement scores across profiles.ResultsNurse managers' empowering behaviors exhibited significant heterogeneity and were classified into four latent profiles: Detached-Control, Task-Driven, Utilitarian-Empowering, and Harmonious-Empowering. Significant differences in nurses' work engagement were observed across these profiles (p < 0.05). Compared with the other three profiles, nurses in the Harmonious-Empowering profile reported significantly higher total work engagement and higher scores across all dimensions (p < 0.05).ConclusionNurse managers' empowering behaviors are not homogeneous but exhibit distinct subgroup patterns. Comprehensive empowering behavior is a key managerial factor in enhancing nurses' work engagement. Nursing managers should strive to build an integrated empowering model that encompasses emotional support, delegation of authority, and competence development, thereby effectively stimulating nurses' work engagement and improving the quality of nursing care.ImpactUsing latent profile analysis, this study is the first to systematically identify four distinct empowering behavior profiles of nurse managers in China. Findings indicate that instrumental support alone is insufficient to foster deep work engagement. The Harmonious-Empowering leadership style—integrating high respect, genuine care, and substantial autonomy—proves most effective in enhancing both work engagement and professional wellbeing. This evidence supports a shift in nursing leadership development from skill-based training toward an integrated humanistic model.