Innovative Nurse, Quality Care: Individual Innovativeness and Caring Behaviors Among Pediatric Emergency Nurses-A...

Pediatric emergency departments are high-intensity settings where nurses must make rapid decisions while delivering high-quality, compassionate care. Individual innovativeness has been identified as a potential factor influencing caring behaviors; however, its role in pediatric emergency nursing is not yet known. This study aimed to examine this relationship and the mediating role of demographic characteristics.

This descriptive cross-sectional study included 195 pediatric emergency nurses working in pediatric emergency departments throughout Turkey. Data were collected using an online survey consisting of a demographic form, the Individual Innovativeness Scale, and the Caring Behaviors Inventory-24. Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were conducted using SPSS version 27. Mediation analysis was performed using Hayes' PROCESS macro v4.3 to examine the indirect effects of demographic variables.

The mean total score on the Individual Innovativeness Scale was 68.09 (SD = 17.30), and the mean item score on the Caring Behaviors Inventory was 3.91 (SD = 0.67). A strong positive correlation was identified between individual innovativeness and caring behaviors (r = 0.827; P < .001). Age, sex, educational level, and professional experience partially mediated this relationship.

Individual innovativeness is significantly associated with caring behaviors in pediatric emergency nurses. The demographic characteristics of nurses were found to have a partial mediating role in this relationship. Promoting nurses' innovative attitudes may support the integration of evidence-based care in pediatric emergency settings.