ASSERTIVENESS Assertive behavior Way of communication that allows

ASSERTIVENESS Assertive behavior: Way of communication that allows individuals to express themselves (directly, honestly, and appropriately) with respecting other person’s right. Honestly and straight-forward expression of how we feel (to ourselves and others). Allow people to stand up for themselves and their rights without violating other's rights. Several authors have stated that nurses lack assertiveness, claiming that nurses would rather be silent than voice opinions that may result in confrontation The best style for the nurse manager

Characteristics of the assertive behavior: 1. 2. 3. 4. Openness Directness Spontaneity Appropriateness Non assertive behavior: Deny your true feelings and inhibit actions that would reflect these feelings in a given situation Characteristics of the nonassertive behavior: Hide your true feelings and inhibit actions that would reflect their feelings. Often feeling hurt. Rarely achieve their goals. Difficulty giving and receiving compliments.

Assertiveness. . Cont. . Aggressive behavior: Accomplish their goals at the expense of others ( emotionally expressive). The areas for assertive communication: 1. Feeling talk. Expressions of positive feelings are difficult for many people. Some people find it difficult to say “thank you” , “I’m so gland you’re here” or “I’ve thought about you often”. Rarely that someone deny a compliment? ? 2. Contradictory opinions: you have to say your opinion freely. 3. Setting limits: very essential in work relationships, especially between superiors and subordinates. 4. Self – Initiation: you must be initiative when express feeling

Components of assertive behaviors: 1 - Verbal and nonverbal expression. Keep eye contact and suitable body posture during speaking to others. Maintaining a congruent facial expression). Example: not smiling when you are angry, and speaking in a infirm, neither too soft nor too loud. 2 - Timing: Be spontaneous in your expression of feelings Don’t letting issues build until explosion, and not with holding positive feelings until they are losing their warmth. 3 - Content of communication: Say what you are feeling, and be honest Accept responsibility for your feeling without putting someone else down. Critique the person’s behavior, not his/her character 4 - The appropriateness of response:

Basic skills for assertive communication: Using “I” instead of you or it, followed by a feeling word. When using the word "I“ you automatically accepting responsibility for your feelings. Appropriate expressions of anger might be “I’m becoming very angry” I’m bothered by. . One way of appropriateness is to distinguish levels of assertion, thinking about the person is smoking and the smoke is traveling back to your face, you might: First: make polite request, “could you please put out your cigarette? ” if nothing happens, you. Secondly: may increase the strength of your request by adding a feeling “ 1 feel very uncomfortable from smoking. Finally : If no results, add a consequence, I’d like you to put it out and if you don’t I will call the

Barriers to assertiveness: 1 - The most famous barrier is female sex role socialization, women are expected to be passive, dependent, subjective, emotionally unstable, subjective, sensitive. . etc. 2 -The nursing socialization: (sacrifice, humility, and service to others. Subservient role , follow physician’s orders Nurses are part of the health team without making decisions or policies. Tend to keep so busy so they ignore their own rights.

3. Queen bee syndrome: nurses face female-female relationship problems. - Female enjoys if being told that she is different from most women. The queen bee usually has to work very hard to become a success in a male-dominated society (Men are more competitive with women than with men, and women are more competitive with women than with other men) To distinguish levels of assertion: I. Behavioral description, concise, specific and nonjudgmental, and don't attacks on a person’s character. II. disclosure of feeling: assess your feelings accurately about the person behavior and to describe them appropriately III. Accurate precise description of the effects of the person’s behavior on you. These should be tangible affect, e. g. , cost you money, harms, consume your time, cause extra work.

Comparison of Behaviors Nonassertive Aggressive Low-self-esteem Self-esteem feels self- High-self-esteem worth open and honest Feels self-pity Act in best interest of Mixed feelings of worth self, pts, clients Shy, withdrawn Feels self to be on peer level. Forward & attacking Apologetic Controls situation Hostile, manipulative Denies self and clients rights and needs Feels must fight for rights Feels victimized Allows Attacks situation to control rather than controlling situation

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