Pediatric nurses’ grit and nursing intention during the COVID-19 pandemic: Mediating and moderating effects of mindset and psychological collectivism

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the mediating and moderating effects of mindset and psychological collectivism, respectively, on the relationship between grit and nursing intention for children with emerging infectious diseases, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), among pediatric nurses. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study with 230 pediatric nurses. Results: Grit directly impacted mindset (β=.27, p<.001) and nursing intention (β=.20, p=.001). The direct effect of mindset on nursing intension (β=.28, p<.001) and the indirect effect of grit on nursing intension via mindset (β=.08, p<.001) were significant. Accordingly, mindset mediated the effect of grit on nursing intention. The effects of grit and psychological collectivism (β =.19, p=.003), respectively, on nursing intention were significant. However, the interaction between grit and psychological collectivism was not significant. Thus, psychological collectivism did not moderate the effect of grit on nursing intention. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate the importance of pediatric nurses’ grit and mindset on their intended care for patients in critical situations. Cultivating a gritty culture and developing interventions to enhance nurses’ personality traits associated with their performance will be crucial, and such measures are especially salient for pediatric nurses to face the new adjustments required in the era of COVID-19.