Assertiveness Education: One Method for Teaching Staff and Patients

This article describes a practical way to teach assertiveness to nurses who in turn teach this skill to patients. Assertiveness is presented here as a positive act involving a series of thought changes whereby equal esteem is accorded one’s own ideas and the ideas of others. Assertive stances are taught in conjunction with one’s natural personality and usual style of communicating. Anecdotal examples are provided to illustrate patient client progress with specific assertiveness goals.