Relation between Head Nurse' Assertiveness and Their Decision Making Abilities at Tanta University

Background: Assertiveness plays an important role in all head nurses' activities and in reaching high abilities of making decision. Aim : The present study aimed to assess the relation between head nurses' assertiveness and their decision making abilities at Tanta University Hospitals. Research design : Descriptive correlational research design was used in this study. Setting: The study was conducted at Tanta University Hospitals (The Main, Emergency and Ophthalmic Hospitals). The study subjects : Consisted of 115 head nurses and a representative sample of 673 staff nurses working at Tanta University Hospitals. Tools : Three tools were used to collect data Tool I : Assertiveness Structured Questionnaire Sheet. Tool II: Head Nurse' Assertiveness as perceived by staff nurses. Tool III: Head Nurses ' Decision Making Abilities Questionnaire. Results : As total, majority (98.3%) of head nurses and more than three quarters (77.6%) of staff nurses reported that head nurses had high level of assertiveness. Regarding head nurses' overall decision making abilities, majority (93.0%) of head nurses had high level of decision making abilities . Conclusion : There was a positive correlation between head nurses' assertiveness, head nurses' assertiveness as perceived by staff nurses and head nurses 'decision making abilities. Recommendations: Head nurses need to support continuously of newly developed assertive behavior to solidify the new pattern of communication