Perceived level of assertiveness and self-esteem of nurse interns in Enugu Nigeria

Background: Assertiveness and high self esteem form the most important behavioural skills for nurses in the workplace, especially to build effective team relationships and to provide quality nursing care. Material and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving ninety-two (92) interns emp...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ifeoma F. Ndubuisi, Ijeoma L. Okoronkwo, Ada C. Nwaneri, Ijeoma Maduakolam, Chijioke O. Nwodoh, Chisom Mbadugha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-01-01
Series:International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139124001501
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850077226975887360
author Ifeoma F. Ndubuisi
Ijeoma L. Okoronkwo
Ada C. Nwaneri
Ijeoma Maduakolam
Chijioke O. Nwodoh
Chisom Mbadugha
author_facet Ifeoma F. Ndubuisi
Ijeoma L. Okoronkwo
Ada C. Nwaneri
Ijeoma Maduakolam
Chijioke O. Nwodoh
Chisom Mbadugha
author_sort Ifeoma F. Ndubuisi
collection DOAJ
description Background: Assertiveness and high self esteem form the most important behavioural skills for nurses in the workplace, especially to build effective team relationships and to provide quality nursing care. Material and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving ninety-two (92) interns employed in tertiary institutions. Two standardised instruments were used for data collection: Rathus Assertiveness Schedule and Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Majority of the interns have moderate level of self-esteem (55.5). Findings revealed highest scores on self-esteem items; they felt that they had a number of good qualities (3.5 ± 0.8); felt satisfied with themselves (3.5 ± 0.7); could do things as well as most other people (3.4 ± 0.8). Level of assertiveness of the respondents was low 22.2. Non-assertiveness was observed in stating that people took advantage of them (−0.4 ± 2.2); avoid hurting other people’s feelings even when they feel injured (2.0 ± 1.8); not been able to say anything at times (1.8 ± 1.9) and avoiding asking questions for fear of sounding stupid (1.8 ± 2.3). There was no significant association between the level of self-esteem of the nurse interns and their level of assertiveness (x2 = 0.073 and P = 0.787). Conclusion: Nurse interns in Nigeria currently have relative low level of assertiveness, however their level of self esteem is moderately high. Improving these behavioural skills will improve the quality of care rendered by interns therefore these concepts should constitute an integral part of the basic undergraduate nursing courses.
format Article
id doaj-art-226f707a29634b26902ba3f6d7010e67
institution DOAJ
issn 2214-1391
language English
publishDate 2024-01-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences
spelling doaj-art-226f707a29634b26902ba3f6d7010e672025-08-20T02:45:50ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences2214-13912024-01-012110080410.1016/j.ijans.2024.100804Perceived level of assertiveness and self-esteem of nurse interns in Enugu NigeriaIfeoma F. Ndubuisi0Ijeoma L. Okoronkwo1Ada C. Nwaneri2Ijeoma Maduakolam3Chijioke O. Nwodoh4Chisom Mbadugha5Department of Nursing Sciences, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu, NigeriaDepartment of Nursing Sciences, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu, NigeriaDepartment of Nursing Sciences, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu, NigeriaCorresponding author at: Department of Nursing Sciences, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria; Department of Nursing Sciences, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu, NigeriaDepartment of Nursing Sciences, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu, NigeriaDepartment of Nursing Sciences, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu, NigeriaBackground: Assertiveness and high self esteem form the most important behavioural skills for nurses in the workplace, especially to build effective team relationships and to provide quality nursing care. Material and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving ninety-two (92) interns employed in tertiary institutions. Two standardised instruments were used for data collection: Rathus Assertiveness Schedule and Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Majority of the interns have moderate level of self-esteem (55.5). Findings revealed highest scores on self-esteem items; they felt that they had a number of good qualities (3.5 ± 0.8); felt satisfied with themselves (3.5 ± 0.7); could do things as well as most other people (3.4 ± 0.8). Level of assertiveness of the respondents was low 22.2. Non-assertiveness was observed in stating that people took advantage of them (−0.4 ± 2.2); avoid hurting other people’s feelings even when they feel injured (2.0 ± 1.8); not been able to say anything at times (1.8 ± 1.9) and avoiding asking questions for fear of sounding stupid (1.8 ± 2.3). There was no significant association between the level of self-esteem of the nurse interns and their level of assertiveness (x2 = 0.073 and P = 0.787). Conclusion: Nurse interns in Nigeria currently have relative low level of assertiveness, however their level of self esteem is moderately high. Improving these behavioural skills will improve the quality of care rendered by interns therefore these concepts should constitute an integral part of the basic undergraduate nursing courses.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139124001501Nurse internsAssertiveness levelSelf-esteem. Enugu
spellingShingle Ifeoma F. Ndubuisi
Ijeoma L. Okoronkwo
Ada C. Nwaneri
Ijeoma Maduakolam
Chijioke O. Nwodoh
Chisom Mbadugha
Perceived level of assertiveness and self-esteem of nurse interns in Enugu Nigeria
International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences
Nurse interns
Assertiveness level
Self-esteem. Enugu
title Perceived level of assertiveness and self-esteem of nurse interns in Enugu Nigeria
title_full Perceived level of assertiveness and self-esteem of nurse interns in Enugu Nigeria
title_fullStr Perceived level of assertiveness and self-esteem of nurse interns in Enugu Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Perceived level of assertiveness and self-esteem of nurse interns in Enugu Nigeria
title_short Perceived level of assertiveness and self-esteem of nurse interns in Enugu Nigeria
title_sort perceived level of assertiveness and self esteem of nurse interns in enugu nigeria
topic Nurse interns
Assertiveness level
Self-esteem. Enugu
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139124001501
work_keys_str_mv AT ifeomafndubuisi perceivedlevelofassertivenessandselfesteemofnurseinternsinenugunigeria
AT ijeomalokoronkwo perceivedlevelofassertivenessandselfesteemofnurseinternsinenugunigeria
AT adacnwaneri perceivedlevelofassertivenessandselfesteemofnurseinternsinenugunigeria
AT ijeomamaduakolam perceivedlevelofassertivenessandselfesteemofnurseinternsinenugunigeria
AT chijiokeonwodoh perceivedlevelofassertivenessandselfesteemofnurseinternsinenugunigeria
AT chisommbadugha perceivedlevelofassertivenessandselfesteemofnurseinternsinenugunigeria