Informatologia, Vol. 51 No. 3-4, 2018.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.32914/i.51.3-4.3
COMMUNICATIVE FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ASSERTIVENESS IN SLOVENIAN NURSING STAFF IN CLINICAL PRACTICE
Silva Roncelli Vaupot
; University College of Health Sciences, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia
Danica Železnik
; University College of Health Sciences, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia
Abstract
The objective of this research was to investigate the assertiveness of nursing staff members in their everyday practice. The secondary goal was to investigate whether assertiveness is related to sex, age, years of working experience, education and self-esteem. Nursing staff members are expected to have a high level of assertiveness to establish optimal professional communication and working performance. A cross-sectional study design and convenience sampling were applied. Altogether, 303 nursing staff members (88.8% female and 11.2% male; aged between 21 and 58 years) from the northeastern part of Slovenia were enrolled in the study. The participants were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire, which consisted of the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The sample included 44.6% registered nurses and 55.4% nursing assistants with mean = 15.9 (SD 10.1) years of working experience. In general, the level of assertiveness by Rathus scale was low at mean = +4.0 (SD 17.2) points. The male nursing staff members were significantly more assertive than the female nursing staff members (p=0.024). A positive association was observed between assertiveness and self-esteem (p<0.001). There was no evidence of a significant association between assertiveness and age, years of experience or level of education. The nursing staff members reported low levels of assertiveness, which is consistent with previous findings in this field. Improving assertive behaviour towards patients and other healthcare staff may contribute to improving the quality of patient care.
Keywords
assertiveness; self-esteem; communication; nursing staff
Hrčak ID:
217564
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2018.
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