Do you take on more work than you can handle, and not say anything? Do you easily provide feedback to your colleagues, whether negative or positive? Speaking up in certain work situations can make all the difference in ensuring quality of care, patient safety and positive workplace cultures. Simply reporting a patient’s status, accounting for a mistake, and giving feedback are all examples of assertive actions that contribute to the delivery of care and workplace cultures. 

Whether you’re a nurse with 20 plus years experience or a new nurse on the floor, assertiveness is a mindset that can be developed with a little practice by individuals and even organizations as a whole. We can all learn more about being assertive and hone our individual skills, so here’s a list that describes people who are assertive. 

As you think about each characteristic, ask yourself these two questions:

1.  How would you rate yourself?

2.  What could your organization do to support you in developing and practicing related skills?

Characteristics of People Who are Assertive:

•  Are aware when their rights, feelings or opinions are being compromised.

• Respect the views of others, even when disagreeing.

• Express feelings and emotions with ease.

• Avoid raising their voice and/or using disrespectful language with others.

• Say 'no' when they need to.

• Feel happy to participate in group situations.

• Take responsibility for their thoughts and actions.

• Ask for what they need. 

• Use compromise and collaboration to settle conflict.

I believe speaking up assertively is a much more complicated practice than meets the eye.  It is not easy for some of us, myself included, as an assertive stance involves self awareness about wants, needs and feelings as well as a willingness to listen to and respect those of others.  Nurses, in my experience, are often more comfortable assessing and responding to other people’s needs and not always so adept at tuning in to and expressing their own.

Do you feel the need to be more assertive? Share your experiences where you’ve noticed being assertive made a difference.