Assertiveness in nursing

Abstract

Assertiveness is communicating and expressing your thoughts, feelings, and opinions in a way that makes your views and needs clearly understood by others, without putting down their thoughts, feelings, or opinions. This article highlights on the need of assertion among nursing professionals. It further arguments the benefits and techniques of assertiveness. It also clarifies the difference between assertive behavior, aggressive behavior and non-aggressive behavior that would allow the nurses to handle the situations tactfully. Assertiveness is considered also to be an essential social skill, especially for nurses. Becoming more assertive can lead to increased respect and recognition as a person and as a nurse. As nurses work in different situations they have to be assertive in order to meet the challenges and to win the cooperation from others [1].