Assertive and Responsible communication
Study Guide for students
Assertive communication: Assertive means expressing opinions or desires
strongly and with confidence, so that people take notice. "To assert" is declare,
insist on one's own rights or opinion, and demand recognition. "To be assertive" is
to assert one self, positive, forthright to which it can be communicated in a
particular way. Assertive behavior consists of imparting feelings, emotions, and
opinions, in health care settings, assertive behavior is a key element in ensuring
that patient care is delivered appropriately.
Assertive communication is a strategy to express thoughts and feeling, have
positive attitude, feel comfort & confident and honor own & others’ rights.
Assertiveness communication: Assertiveness is a learned behavior. Many nurses,
especially women, have been socialized to act passively. Passive behavior is
defined as a response that denies our own rights to avoid conflict. Passively can be
evidenced by the acceptance of a negative, unfair comment without any further
discussion of the impact the comment had on oneself. Aggressive behaviors, on the
other hands, have a goal of dominating while suppressing the other person's rights.
Assertive needs to be practiced to be learned. Effective nursing encompasses
• Assertiveness is about self-confidence which means having a positive
attitude towards yourself and others.
• Assertiveness is form of behavior characterized by a confident declaration or
affirmation of a statement without need of proof; this affirms the person's
rights or point of view without either aggressively threatening the rights of
another (assuming a position of dominance) or submissively permitting
another to ignore or deny one's rights or point of view.
,Components of assertive communication: Assertiveness is a communication
style that comprises –
A. Respect for others.
B. Respect for oneself.
C. Self-awareness,
D. Effective, clear, and consistent communication.
a) Respect for others: We respect their right to make demands, ask for favors
and express their feelings. When we respect others, they are more likely to
use appropriate behaviors in responding to our demands, feelings, and needs.
b) Respect for oneself: Make us less likely to be dependent on others for
approval and self-worth and less likely to act against our will. This can
prevent us from following a cause of action that we know to be wrong or
inappropriate.
c) Self-awareness: Enables us to approach every circumstance with some idea
of what might happen and how we might feel about it. This way we can take
responsibility for our emotions and are less likely to blame others.
d) Effective, clear, and consistent communication: Ensures that others
understand what we say and what we mean. It also ensures that they know
that we understand what they want from us. Also, if we communicate clearly
and consistently, we are less likely to mislead, mystify, and maltreat others
and even ourselves.
Identify barriers to behaving assertively
Listed below are some of the barriers to assertiveness:
1. Fear or rejection
2. Previous bad experience
3. Fear of failing
4. Fear of upsetting people
5. Others people's perception
6. Self-perception
, 7. Fear of retaliation
8. Lack of knowledge and skills
9. Emotional problems
10.Psychological problem
11.Fear of losing control
12.Lack of self-esteem.
13.Lack of self-confidence.
14.Lack of support or change in behavior
15.Fear of others people’s response
16.Fear of change
17.Unwillingness to change
18.Incomplete understanding of the term "assertiveness"
19.Lack of role models
20.Feeling of powerlessness.
21.Gender and cult rural issues
Responsible communication
Define the term responsible communication
"To be responsible" means "likely to be called upon the answer; able to respond or
answer for one's conduct and obligations.
As nurses, this accountability may be described as being personally responsible for
the outcome of our own professional actions. To act this responsibly means that our
nursing care is based on knowledge, not tradition or myth.
"To communicate responsibly" means to communicate in a logical, systematic way
based on facts presented in the situation and your nursing knowledge.
Responsible communication demonstrates accurate problem-solving behavior for
the particular situation.
Study Guide for students
Assertive communication: Assertive means expressing opinions or desires
strongly and with confidence, so that people take notice. "To assert" is declare,
insist on one's own rights or opinion, and demand recognition. "To be assertive" is
to assert one self, positive, forthright to which it can be communicated in a
particular way. Assertive behavior consists of imparting feelings, emotions, and
opinions, in health care settings, assertive behavior is a key element in ensuring
that patient care is delivered appropriately.
Assertive communication is a strategy to express thoughts and feeling, have
positive attitude, feel comfort & confident and honor own & others’ rights.
Assertiveness communication: Assertiveness is a learned behavior. Many nurses,
especially women, have been socialized to act passively. Passive behavior is
defined as a response that denies our own rights to avoid conflict. Passively can be
evidenced by the acceptance of a negative, unfair comment without any further
discussion of the impact the comment had on oneself. Aggressive behaviors, on the
other hands, have a goal of dominating while suppressing the other person's rights.
Assertive needs to be practiced to be learned. Effective nursing encompasses
• Assertiveness is about self-confidence which means having a positive
attitude towards yourself and others.
• Assertiveness is form of behavior characterized by a confident declaration or
affirmation of a statement without need of proof; this affirms the person's
rights or point of view without either aggressively threatening the rights of
another (assuming a position of dominance) or submissively permitting
another to ignore or deny one's rights or point of view.
,Components of assertive communication: Assertiveness is a communication
style that comprises –
A. Respect for others.
B. Respect for oneself.
C. Self-awareness,
D. Effective, clear, and consistent communication.
a) Respect for others: We respect their right to make demands, ask for favors
and express their feelings. When we respect others, they are more likely to
use appropriate behaviors in responding to our demands, feelings, and needs.
b) Respect for oneself: Make us less likely to be dependent on others for
approval and self-worth and less likely to act against our will. This can
prevent us from following a cause of action that we know to be wrong or
inappropriate.
c) Self-awareness: Enables us to approach every circumstance with some idea
of what might happen and how we might feel about it. This way we can take
responsibility for our emotions and are less likely to blame others.
d) Effective, clear, and consistent communication: Ensures that others
understand what we say and what we mean. It also ensures that they know
that we understand what they want from us. Also, if we communicate clearly
and consistently, we are less likely to mislead, mystify, and maltreat others
and even ourselves.
Identify barriers to behaving assertively
Listed below are some of the barriers to assertiveness:
1. Fear or rejection
2. Previous bad experience
3. Fear of failing
4. Fear of upsetting people
5. Others people's perception
6. Self-perception
, 7. Fear of retaliation
8. Lack of knowledge and skills
9. Emotional problems
10.Psychological problem
11.Fear of losing control
12.Lack of self-esteem.
13.Lack of self-confidence.
14.Lack of support or change in behavior
15.Fear of others people’s response
16.Fear of change
17.Unwillingness to change
18.Incomplete understanding of the term "assertiveness"
19.Lack of role models
20.Feeling of powerlessness.
21.Gender and cult rural issues
Responsible communication
Define the term responsible communication
"To be responsible" means "likely to be called upon the answer; able to respond or
answer for one's conduct and obligations.
As nurses, this accountability may be described as being personally responsible for
the outcome of our own professional actions. To act this responsibly means that our
nursing care is based on knowledge, not tradition or myth.
"To communicate responsibly" means to communicate in a logical, systematic way
based on facts presented in the situation and your nursing knowledge.
Responsible communication demonstrates accurate problem-solving behavior for
the particular situation.
