Objective To explore the mediating role of emotional exhaustion in the relationship between leisure crafting and job performance among clinical nurses, so as to provide a reference for improving the job performance level of clinical nurses. Methods A total of 304 clinical nurses were selected by using convenience sampling, then they were investigated by utilizing a general information questionnaire, the Leisure Crafting Scale, the Emotional Exhaustion Subscale of the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Nurse Job Performance Scale. Results The participants′ scores of leisure crafting, emotional exhaustion and job performance were （2.21±0.90）, （3.81±1.67） and （2.69±0.74） respectively.The score of leisure crafting was negatively correlated with emotional exhaustion score (r=-0.447) and positively correlated with job performance score (r=0.615).Clinical nurses′ emotional exhaustion played a partial mediating role in the relationship between leisure crafting and job performance, accounting for 23.43% of the total effects. Conclusion Clinical nurses have low work performance level, which could be improved by enhancing their leisure crafting ability and alleviating their emotional exhaustion.