Nurses can be more assertive by training to speak and listen in a way that helps them express their views and by paying attention to what their patients and colleagues are saying. According to Yoshinaga et al. (2017), assertiveness is typically defined as the ability to express one’s opinion freely and without violating the rights of others. In a way, assertiveness is the freedom of expression that contributes to the efficiency of the patient-nurse interactions.
One evident benefit of assertiveness is the ability to comprehend the needs of the patient better and therefore address them more effectively. Moreover, assertive nurses learn to express their opinion, feelings, and needs and, therefore, can better understand when their patients are doing this (Yoshinaga et al., 2017). My basic rights as a person and as a nurse include receiving quality care and being respected during communication with another person. Hence, assertiveness becomes pivotal for this because it helps people express themselves more clearly and be more attentive to the needs of others.
I can begin to practice assertive communication by, firstly, prompting myself to speak more and listen actively. Moreover, in some cases being assertive means ensuring that one does not give up until what they want to communicate is heard (“Focused assertive communication for nurses,” n.d.). For nurses, this might mean speaking to physicians on several occasions to ensure that their concerns are heard or explaining to patients how to practice self-care until they comprehend the different aspects of it. Hence, to practice assertiveness, one has to focus on what they want to communicate to practice speaking and listening. The components of assertive communication are body language, expressing ideas using “I,” avoiding conflicts, and cooperation.
References
Focused assertive communication for nurses. (n.d.).
Yoshinaga, N., Nakamura, Y., Tanoue, H., MacLiam, F., Aoishi, K., & Shiraishi, Y. (2017). Is modified brief assertiveness training for nurses effective? A single-group study with long-term follow-up. Journal Of Nursing Management, 26(1), 59-65. doi: 10.1111/jonm.12521