The association between quality of clinical education and assertiveness in operating room and anesthesia nursing students: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundAssertiveness provides a nurse with the foundation for establishing successful relationships with patients, family members, and healthcare team members. Clinical education creates a unique opportunity to prepare students for professional identity because knowledge alone is not enough to provide safe care, and without clinical education, training efficient and competent people will be very difficult and impossible. This study aimed to determine the association between the quality of clinical education and assertiveness of operating room and anesthesia students. MethodIn this analytical cross-sectional study, 230 students who were in the second year of undergraduate education participated. The research was conducted in the 2022 academic year at the Department of Nursing School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Clinical Education Quality Assessment Questionnaire and Gambler and Ritchie Assertiveness Questionnaire were data collection instruments. Statistical methods used included descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, independent t-test, Chi-square test, and regression analysis. ResultsOut of 230 students participating in this study, 103 were operating room nursing students, and 127 were anesthesia nursing students. One hundred forty-one students were female, and 89 were male, 79 % of whom were aged 18–32 years. A significant relationship was found between the quality of clinical education and interest in the field, the number of children, and employment during education (P = 0.01). Also, a significant relationship was observed between decisiveness and the main variables (P = 0.01). The correlation analysis results showed students who scored higher on assertiveness had reported the quality of their clinical training higher (r = 0.23, p < 0.001). ConclusionAssertiveness as a communication style can play an important role in improving performance and quality of care in tense, stressful care settings. Improving assertiveness can be considered as a useful factor in the clinical training of the operating room and anesthesia nursing students. Therefore, it is suggested that the instructors should include instruction on assertiveness in nursing education courses.