PURPOSE
This study was designed to identify a path model that anticipates the interpersonal competence of nurses by anticipating factors that explain interpersonal competence within an organization, and analyzing the effects of these factors. A hypothetical model was formulated based on a literature review of interpersonal competence. For the study, influential factors were divided into two variables: exogenous variables including communication style, coaching leadership, and social support, and endogenous variables of self-efficacy, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment.
METHODS
The sample included 202 hospital nurses. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS and AMOS.
RESULTS
The overall fitness was good (chi2=74.707, p<.001), d.f=19, chi2/df= 3.932, GFI=.940, AGFI=.826, RMR=.009). Social support, self-efficacy, horizontal communication and organizational commitment directly affected the interpersonal competence of the nurses, and informal type of communication, horizontal, upward communication and coaching leadership indirectly effected the interpersonal competence of the nurses. Horizontal communication, social support, self-efficacy, and organizational commitment explained 46.5% of the variance in interpersonal competence of nurses.
CONCLUSION
Based on the study results, nurses in hospitals need informal types of communication, horizontal, upward communication and coaching leadership to increase their interpersonal competence.