relationship between motivational function of head nurses with mental health of nurses

background: according to previous studies, variable percent of nurses suffering from psychological problems or disorders. identifying preventive factors of psychological disorders to be used more frequently and risk factors of these disorders to eliminate them are essential in improving mental health of staff. the present study aims to assess the relationship between motivational function of head nurses on mental health of nurses in teaching hospitals of qom. methods: this is a descriptive-correlational study. 275 nurses were selected from 3 teaching hospitals in qom based on convenience sampling method. a researcher-designed questionnaire for assessment of performance incentive plan of head nurses and the general health questionnaire – 28 (ghq-28) questionnaires based on the likert scale and cut-of score of 32 were used for this study.  descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and correlation analysis (pearson’s correlation) were performed using the spss. findings: study findings indicated that 45.1% of study nurses are mentally healthy and 54.9% of nurses are susceptible to psychological problems.  performance incentive plan of head nurses was scored as good and weak by 37.7% and 19.5% of studied nurses respectively. there was reverse but not statistically significant correlation between psychological problems of nurses and quality of performance incentive plan of head nurses (p.0.05). conclusion: performance incentive plan of head nurses is essential but not adequate for mental health of nurses. further support by hospital managers and national heath care system for effective planning to prevent psychological problems, periodic psychological examinations of nurses and treatment of psychological disorders are necessary and recommended.