The mediating role of safety climate in the relationship between work environment and nurses' voice behavior

The aim of this descriptive correlational study is to examine the mediating role of safety climate in the relationship between nurses' voice behavior and their work environment. This study was conducted in a training and research hospital and two university hospitals located within the borders of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality. The sample of the study consists of 419 nurses who have been working in these hospitals for at least six months. The data of the study were collected by using Personal Information Form, Nursing Job Index-Nursing Work Environment Assessment Scale, Employee Voice Scale and Safety Climate Scale. While the study data was analysed statistically, Frequencies, descriptive statistics, Pearson Correlation coefficient, Independent Sample t Test, ANOVA, Tukey Test and Structural Equation Modeling were used. While the total mean score of the nurses, participating in the study, was 2.39±0.4 on the Nursing Work Index-the Practice Environment Scale, The total mean score of Employee Voice Scale was 20.04±5.44 and the total mean score of Safety Climate Scale was 57.22±15.65. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis indicated a statistically significant moderate positive correlation between work environment and employee voice (r=0.349, p<0,05) and also it was found a statistically significant moderate positive correlation between work environment and safety climate (r=0.596, p<0,05). A statistically significant moderate positive correlation was also found between employee voice and safety climate (r=0.429, p<0,05). In addition, the results implicated that safety climate partially mediated the effect of the work environment on nurses' voice behaviour, but it had no moderator effect. Based on the results of the research, it was made recommendations on enhancing the work environment, developing nurses' voice behaviour, and creating a positive safety climate.