The Relationship Between Illegitimate Tasks and Nurse Work Engagement: The Mediating Role of Workplace Mindfulness

Aim: This study aims to explore the relationship between illegitimate tasks and nurses' work engagement, as well as the mediating role of workplace mindfulness in this relationship. Design: This is a quantitative cross-sectional study. Methods: The study was conducted from October to December 2023 across three tertiary hospitals in Central China. Questionnaires on illegitimate tasks, workplace mindfulness, and work engagement were distributed to participating nurses via an online platform, yielding 1458 voluntary responses. SPSS 26.0 was used to analyze the data by Z-tests and Spearman rank correlation analysis. The intrinsic mechanism of the effects of workplace mindfulness and illegitimate tasks on nurses' work engagement was examined using AMOS 24.0 statistical software. Results: The total scores of nurses' work engagement, workplace mindfulness, and perceived illegitimate tasks were 34.00 (27.00, 43.00), 75.00 (69.00, 83.00), and 19.00 (14.00, 24.00), respectively. The rank correlation analysis showed that Chinese nurses' work engagement was positively correlated with workplace mindfulness but negatively correlated with illegitimate tasks. And workplace mindfulness was identified as a partial mediator between illegitimate tasks and nurses' work engagement, accounting for 49.1% of the effect. Conclusion: Nurses' work engagement and perceived illegitimate tasks were found to be at moderate levels, while workplace mindfulness received relatively high scores. Additionally, workplace mindfulness acted as a partial mediator between illegitimate tasks and nurses' work engagement. Impact: Nursing managers should actively monitor the work engagement levels of clinical nurses and recognize the negative impact of illegitimate tasks on their engagement. Additionally, fostering mindfulness in daily practices is essential to enhance nurses' work engagement and improve the quality of nursing care.