RESUMO
PURPOSE: The purpose was to identify the influence the quality of head and clinical nurses' LMX (Leader-Member Exchange) on job satisfaction and organizational commitment. METHODS: The participants were 42 head nurses and 202 clinical nurses who worked in 7 hospitals with more than 300 beds in I-city. The data were collected from March 10 to April 10, 2013 using a self-report questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using hierarchical regression with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. RESULTS: The mean score for head nurses' LMX quality was 3.66 and for clinical nurses, 3.51. Clinical nurses' LMX quality and age had a positive impact on job satisfaction (F=8.00, p<.001). Clinical nurses' LMX quality and marriage (not single) had a positive impact on organizational commitment (F=6.76, p<.001). CONCLUSION: The LMX quality of head nurse was higher than that of clinical nurses, but did not positively affect clinical nurses' job satisfaction or organizational commitment indicating that the LMX quality of clinical nurses is more important than that of head nurse. Thus head nurses should make efforts to lead their units or teams in a positive and friendly way. This positive recognition will promote greater job satisfaction and organizational commitment of clinical nurses.