Moderating Effects of Assertiveness on Organizational Justice and Nurse-Nurse Collaboration Behavior in Generation Z Nurses

Purpose: This study aimed to verify the relationship between organizational justice and nurse-nurse collaboration behavior among Generation Z nurses, and to identify the moderating effect of assertiveness on this relationship. Methods: The subjects of this study were a total of 200 Generation Z nurses with more than 1 year and less than 4 years of experience working at a tertiary hospital, born between 1995 and 2005. The study used hierarchical multiple regression analysis. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS program. Results: Organizational justice and nurse-nurse collaboration behavior indicated a significant positive correlation (r=.63, p<.001). Although the correlation between assertiveness and nurse-nurse collaboration behavior was weak, it had a significant positive correlation (r=.14, p=.048). Assertiveness had a moderating effect on the relationship between organizational justice and nurse-nurse collaboration behavior in Generation Z nurses (β=.011, p=.045). Conclusion: This result suggests that assertiveness is important for Generation Z nurses. By developing educational programs for Generation Z nursing students, pre-nurses, and all hospital nurses on the meaning and methods of assertiveness according to their characteristics, and by educating and training them at schools or clinical sites, it is expected that their assertiveness capabilities will be strengthened. Additionally, increasing organizational justice by educating nurse managers about and emphasizing the importance of distributive justice, which was rated the lowest, will have a positive impact on nurse collaborative behavior.