The influence of responsible leadership on nurse’s career calling: a moderated mediation model of public service motivation and moral identity

Abstract Background Research on career calling has predominantly focused on its positive outcomes for well-being and professional development. However, investigations into its antecedents remain limited, particularly within the demanding context of healthcare. To address this gap, this study examines whether, how, and for whom responsible leadership fosters a sense of career calling among nurses. We specifically test a moderated mediation model in which public service motivation mediates the link between responsible leadership and career calling, and moral identity moderates this indirect pathway. Methods A cross-sectional study utilizing random sampling was conducted among 356 nurses from eight public general hospitals in China. Data were collected through self‑administered questionnaires comprising validated scales for all constructs, along with demographic items. The proposed moderated mediation model was tested via multiple regression analysis with bootstrapping procedures, specifically employing Model 7 of the PROCESS macro for SPSS to test the indirect and conditional effects. Results Responsible leadership positively predicted both public service motivation and career calling. Public service motivation partially mediated this relationship. Furthermore, moral identity moderated the indirect effect of responsible leadership on career calling via public service motivation, with the effect being more pronounced when moral identity was high. Conclusions This study advances the emerging literature on the antecedents of career calling by investigating the mechanisms and boundary conditions through which leadership fosters a sense of calling among healthcare professionals in China. The findings indicate that responsible leadership may serve as a pivotal managerial practice for cultivating career calling, particularly in contexts where moral identity is salient.