Communication Skills Training Program and its Effect on Head Nurses' Assertiveness and Self-Esteem

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Professor of Nursing Administration, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University-Cairo-Egypt.

2 Assistant Professor of Nursing Administration. Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University-Cairo-Egypt.

Abstract

Background: Communication is a basic function of human beings, of vital importance to
developing interpersonal relationships, and for groups, organizations, and society to function well.
Aim: The study aims to assess the communication skills training program effect on head nurses'
assertiveness and self-esteem. Setting: The study was conducted at Nasser Institute Hospital for
Research and Treatment. Design: A one group pretest- posttest quasi-experimental study design was
used to carry out the study. Subjects: 50 head nurses. Tools: The data of this study were collected
through three tools namely: a knowledge questionnaire, an Assertiveness Assessment Scale and
Sorensen Self-esteem Scale. Results: findings revealed that, (46%) of head nurses had satisfactory
total knowledge of communication, (70%) from head nurses had high assertiveness at the pretest
and improved at posttest and follow up phases reaching (94%), (34%) of head nurses had high self-
esteem at pretest; it improved to 78% at posttest and slightly decreased to 76% at follow up
(p < 0.001). Conclusion: The results of the study lead to the conclusion that a high percentage of the
head nurses in the study setting have unsatisfactory knowledge of communication skills in its
various domains and have low self-esteem, but have high level of assertiveness. The implementation
of the training program in communication is effective in improving their knowledge, self-esteem, as
well as their assertiveness. This improvement is lasting for at least three months.
Recommendations: the study recommends application of developed program to all head nurses in
the study setting and in similar ones. Such training programs should adopt the adult learning
approaches, with more focus on applied knowledge and practical skills. Workshops and seminars
dealing with communication should be regularly conducted to improve head nurses’ assertiveness
and self-esteem. Orientation and preparatory programs for newly appointed head nurses should be
organized and tailored to their identified needs to be able to fulfill their new role; the attendance of
such programs should be a pre-requisite for promotion to such job positions.

Keywords

Egyptian Journal of Health Care
Volume 13, Issue 3
September 2022
Pages 290-300

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics