Title:
Assertiveness and Psychological Empowerment Among Nursing Students: A Malaysian Perspective.

Authors:
Sabrina. P, Aini Ahmad, Salida, J. Azimah, M Annamma. K, Malaysia

Abstract:

Background: In the past several decades, assertiveness and psychological empowerment have played an important role in developing successful nurses. Nurse leaders who can empower others will be able to motivate the frontline nurses with whom they work and help them manage difficult events in the workplace. The purpose of the study was to examine the correlation between the level of assertiveness and psychological empowerment possessed by the year 3 Diploma in nursing students at a private healthcare University College in Malaysia.

Methods: A quantitative cross sectional survey design with convenience sampling was used in this study. The questionnaires were distributed to 144 prospective respondents using google forms. The response rate was 86% (n-119).

Findings Based on the findings, the final-year students are non-assertive (53.8% representing 64 respondents) and not psychologically empowered (100% representing 119 respondents). Moreover, the study showed a positive and significant correlation between assertiveness and psychological empowerment at 0.570 with a p-value <0.01. Hence, a conclusion can be made that the level of assertiveness influences the level of psychological empowerment. All the subscales of psychological empowerment showed significant correlation with assertiveness such as meaning (r= 0.539), competence (r= 0.597), self-determination (r= 0.568) and impact (r= 0.470). This study has shown a correlation between assertiveness and psychological empowerment.

Conclusion: The importance assertiveness or psychological empowerment among nursing students should be considered as cultivating one variable will positively impact the other variable. This is crucial for nursing students as they have to overcome hardships in their practical training, theory-based classes and daily life. Hence, educational institution should emphasize on curriculum revision to include elements of assertiveness or psychological empowerment as soft skills development during nursing training. 

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.51505/ijmshr.2022.6602