Assertiveness and Self-esteem of Final Year Nursing Students: Effect of Psycho-Educational Nursing Intervention

Abstract

Background: Nursing students- as the future professionals- who can behave assertively develop self-worth, self-respect, and high self-esteem while communicating professionally and practicing competently. Aim: This study aimed to assess the assertiveness among final year nursing students; assess the self-esteem among final year nursing students; and to assess the effect of psycho-educational nursing intervention implementation on assertiveness and self-esteem of final year nursing students. Design: A quasi-experimental study design on one group pre/post assessment was utilized on 45 final year nursing students who were enrolled in psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing Ain Shams University. Tools of data collection: The data was collected using an interview questionnaire that included three sections as the following: 1) student's demographic characteristics; 2) Rathus Assertiveness Schedule (RAS); and 3) Rosenberg self-esteem scale. Results: the current study revealed that: there were improvement in the studied nursing students` levels of assertiveness and self-esteem post- psycho-educational nursing intervention implementation; there were highly statistically significant differences between assertiveness levels; and self-esteem levels of the studied nursing students pre- and post psycho-educational nursing intervention implementation; as well, there was a highly statistically significant direct correlation between levels self-esteem and assertiveness of the studied students post psycho-educational nursing intervention implementation. Conclusion: The study concluded that, the psycho-educational nursing intervention implementation had positive effect on assertiveness and self-esteem of final year nursing students. Recommendation: incorporating assertiveness training as an eligible training course of the undergraduate nursing program