Innovative behavior in nurses: The interactive effects of managerial role, entrepreneurship, and collaboration values

Innovative behavior among nurses is essential for improving healthcare quality and efficiency, yet innovation levels remain moderate across clinical settings. While leadership and organizational factors have been widely examined, less is known about how professional values shape innovative behavior, particularly among nurse managers. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the professional values of entrepreneurship and collaboration are associated with innovative behavior in nurses and whether these relationships vary by managerial role. Data were collected through an anonymous online survey of 127 nurses across diverse healthcare settings. Previously validated measures assessed innovative behavior, professional values, and background characteristics. The Principal Results revealed that innovative behavior was shaped by a significant interaction between managerial role and the values of entrepreneurship and collaboration. Specifically, entrepreneurship was positively associated with innovative behavior primarily when collaboration value was high, and this pattern was more evident among nurse managers. In the full model, managerial role was negatively associated with innovative behavior, suggesting that managerial responsibilities may constrain innovation unless supported by strong entrepreneurial and collaborative value orientations. CONCLUSION: Findings highlight the importance of fostering entrepreneurship and collaboration values in nursing leadership development to strengthen innovation capacity in healthcare organizations.