NRS 311 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Assertiveness
Chapter 4 (E reserve) – Assertiveness
• Assertiveness:
o Associated with an individual’s ability to speak up confidently, which can be
challenging for many nurses.
o Requires taking risk and being accountable, and it requires personal growth in
emotional intelligence such as developing self awareness, self confidence, and
motivation
• Speaking up for patients
o Requires knowledge, confidence, and willingness to step up and report concerns
to colleagues and physicians, despite fears of being wrong, inconveniencing
others, or even being disrespected.
o Speaking up for a patient can help encourage them to be assertive
▪ Healthcare systems become more transparent, the role of patients and
families as a collaborative partners is shifting, making assertiveness by
patents more necessary
• Building and Marinating Relationships with Colleagues
o Assertiveness may improve a working environment.
▪ Creates a respectful environment
o Best way to stop passive-aggressive gossiping
• Speaking up for oneself
o Important for staying healthy and providing self care
o Setting limits can be difficult but are necessary for every nurse, and in the long
run benefits colleagues, patients, family, and the organization
• SBAR
o Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation
o Helps convey critical information so that the physician or other provider can make
a decision
o Promotes a critical thinking process
• I statements
o Encourages speakers to show ownership about a concern, want, or need.
o Includes identification of emotions and invites other speakers to participate in the
conversation in a collaborative fashion
o When people don’t use I statements
▪ Avoid responsibility for their own feelings
▪ Blame and/or judge others
▪ Present opinions as if they are facts
▪ Do not allow room for other perspectives
▪ Are authoritarian or controlling
▪ Tend to delay conflict resolution
▪ Can be manipulative
▪ Offer sweeping generalization
o Proper use of I statements
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