Managerial Competency and Perceived Organizational Support as Predictors of Job Stress Among Nurse Managers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background This study aimed to examine the levels of nursing managerial competency, perceived organizational support, and job stress among nurse managers, and to identify the factors affecting their job stress. Methods The participants included 133 nurse managers from seven hospitals in Busan Metropolitan City. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaires including the Korean Occupational Stress Scale and scales measuring nursing managerial competency and perceived organizational support. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests or ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression. Results Mean scores were 4.16 (out of 5) for nursing managerial competency, 3.24 (out of 5) for perceived organizational support, and 2.27 (out of 4) for job stress. Job stress showed negative correlations with both nursing managerial competency (r = − .57, p < .001) and perceived organizational support (r = − .79, p < .001). Hierarchical regression revealed that both nursing managerial competency (β = − .20, p = .003) and perceived organizational support (β = − .68, p < .001) significantly influenced job stress, explaining 64.6% of the variance. Conclusions Nurse managers with higher managerial competency and organizational support perceptions experienced lower job stress. Strategies to enhance nursing managerial competency and organizational support should be developed to effectively manage nurse managers’ job stress.