Unlocking academic achievement of nursing master’s students: ethical leadership, teacher-student relationship and growth mindset – a cross-sectional survey study

Abstract Background Academic achievement is a critical indicator of teaching quality. There has been limited exploration into the mechanisms underlying academic achievements among nursing master’s students. This study investigated the relationship between ethical leadership and academic achievements, focusing on how the teacher-student relationship and growth mindset mediate this relationship. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 262 participants who completed online questionnaires. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis, structural equation model testing, and deviation correction quantile bootstrap method. Results The average academic achievement score was 51.26 (SD = 5.963). There were significant correlations between ethical leadership, teacher-student relationship, growth mindset, and academic achievement (r = 0.183 to 0.701, P