The Effect of the Assertiveness Skill Training on the Surface of Nurse's Aassertiveness in Workplace

Background Assertiveness is an important skill for nurses to successfully communicate with patients, families, and colleagues. Assertiveness as an important component of communication skills increases people’s self-esteem, improves professional communication, and promotes the quality of patient's care. The study aimed to investigate the effect of the assertiveness training on nurses’ level of assertiveness.
Methods & Materials This experimental study was conducted on 60 nurses of Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad in 2014. They were selected by convenience sampling method and then randomly assigned into intervention or control groups. Intervention group received assertiveness skills during a 2-day workshop. The control group did not receive any training. Assertiveness skills was measured in both groups before and 40 days after the intervention by Bar-on assertiveness questionnaire. Data were analyzed by Chi-square, Mann–Whitney, Fisher’s exact test, and Wilcoxon tests using SPSS 11.5.
Results No significant difference was seen between the two groups before the intervention with regard to nurse’s mean score of assertiveness score in the workplace (P=0.417). However, significant differences were seen after the intervention between mean assertiveness skill of the intervention group (23.30±2.89) and that of the control group (19.60±3.01).
Conclusion The results showed that holding assertiveness skills workshop program affects the level of nurses’ assertiveness in the workplace. Therefore, with regard to the advantages of assertiveness skills