Effective leadership plays a vital role in enhancing nurse job satisfaction, particularly in healthcare settings where it significantly influences patient outcomes and workforce stability. This study examines the relationship between transformational leadership and job satisfaction among nurses at Al Dhafra Hospitals in the UAE, with particular attention to the potential moderating role of organizational commitment. The study employed a quantitative correlational design using a cross-sectional survey completed by 348 nurses from Al Dhafra Hospitals in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The questionnaire collected data on nurses’ perceptions of transformational leadership, their level of job satisfaction, and their degree of organizational commitment. Pearson correlation and regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships among these variables and to determine whether organizational commitment exerted a moderating effect. The results revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between transformational leadership and job satisfaction (r = 0.321, p < 0.0001). Regression analysis indicated that transformational leadership explained approximately 10.3% of the variance in job satisfaction (F = 39.83, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, organizational commitment significantly moderated this relationship. Specifically, when levels of organizational commitment were lower, the positive effect of transformational leadership on job satisfaction was weaker (β = ？0.143, p = 0.001). These findings underscore the critical importance of transformational leadership in enhancing nurse job satisfaction, particularly when supported by strong organizational commitment. To improve staff satisfaction and, ultimately, patient care outcomes, healthcare leaders should prioritize the development of transformational leadership competencies and implement strategies to strengthen organizational commitment across the workforce.
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