The relationship between nurses' conflict resolution strategies and ethical leadership perceptions with job satisfaction

This study aims to evaluate the relationship between nurses' conflict resolution strategies and ethical leadership perceptions and job satisfaction. This descriptive study was conducted with 316 nurses working in a university hospital between August and September 2022. Data were collected with the "Descriptive Information Questionnaire", "The Womb Organizational Conflict Inventory (ROCI-II)", the "Ethical Leadership Scale" and the "Minnesota Job Satisfaction Scale". Number, percentage, mean, independent group t-test, ANOVA, advanced analysis test Tukey, Pearson correlation analysis, and structural equation model were used in the analysis of the data. Ethics committee approval, institutional permission, scale usage permissions, and verbal permission from nurses were obtained for the research. In this study, it was found that the ethical leadership perceived by the nurses in their managers was below the medium level, their job satisfaction was at a moderate level, the most used strategy by nurses in conflict resolution was a compromise, and the least used strategy was domination. As a result of Pearson Correlation Analysis, it was determined that there was a positive, high, and highly significant relationship between nurses' ethical leadership perceptions and job satisfaction (r=0.549; p<0.001). Between ethical leadership and conflict resolution strategies; positive, moderate, avoidance (r=0.288; p<0.001), compromise (r=0.185; p<0,001) with integration strategy (r=0.309; p<0.001) and takedown strategy (r=0.312; p<0.001) and domination style (r=0.137; p<0.05), there was a positive, weak and significant relationship. Between job satisfaction and conflict resolution strategies; integrating (r=0.359; p<0.001) and undertaking style (r=0.334; p<0.001) in the positive direction and moderately, compromise (r=0.285; p<0.001), avoidance (0.193; p<0.001) and It was determined that there was a positive, weak and significant relationship with domination style (r=0.140; p<0.05). As a result of the structural equation model, it was found that ethical leadership had a significant positive effect on job satisfaction (ß=0.430; p<0.001). In addition, the mediating role of conflict resolution strategies in the effect of ethical leadership on job satisfaction was evaluated with structural equation analysis and as a result of the analysis; integrating (ß=0.049; p<0.001), undertaking (ß=0.044; p<0.001) and compromise style (ß=0.027; p<0.001) were found to have mediator roles in a positive and significant way. As a result of this study, it was concluded that ethical leadership is an important factor affecting job satisfaction. At the same time, it was determined that integrating, dismissing, and negotiation styles played a mediating role in the effect of ethical leadership on job satisfaction. It is thought that nurses' job satisfaction will increase with the adoption of ethical leadership by nurse managers and the use of appropriate styles in conflict resolution.