Abstract

The purpose of this research is to explore a novel model whereby boundary-spanning leadership (BSL) enhances nurses’ absorptive capacity (ACAP), ultimately leading to increased job embeddedness (JE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. An autoregressive cross-lagged model was employed to examine the causal relationships among BSL, ACAP, and JE. Data were collected through three waves of surveys conducted at three-month intervals, with a final sample of 297 nurses in Chinese hospitals. This longitudinal design enabled the investigation of both the direct and indirect effects of BSL on JE, mediated by ACAP, as well as the bidirectional influence between BSL and ACAP over time. First, the autoregressive effects confirmed the temporal stability of BSL, ACAP, and JE, indicating that these constructs remained consistently valid in real-world settings over time. Second, the cross-lagged analysis validated that BSL, by fostering ACAP, indirectly enhanced JE, while BSL had no direct effect on JE. Finally, the bidirectional relationship between BSL and ACAP revealed a reciprocal dynamic between these two constructs. This research introduces a unique model that integrates BSL, ACAP, and JE, addressing gaps in prior literature and providing meaningful insights through rigorous analysis using longitudinal data and an autoregressive cross-lagged model. We suggested that hospital administrators and HR leaders foster ACAP through regular feedback sessions and workshops that promote knowledge sharing and the exploration of new ideas, and further emphasized the role of BSL within tailored training programs.