Effect of Psychological Empowerment Training on Assertiveness of Nurses in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Introduction: Assertiveness in nurses of special care units is of particular importance because of providing complex and critical care to patients. It has an effect on improving the quality of care provided by nurses. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of psychological empowerment training on assertiveness of nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 27 nurses from the NICU of Shahid Sadoughi Hospital in Yazd, were selected in 2022 based on the census sampling method and participated in psychological empowerment workshop during four one-hour virtual sessions. The intervention was designed by five experienced psychologists and implemented with the researcher and a psychologist. Data was collected using demographic questionnaire and Gambrill and Richie Assertion Inventory Questionnaire, before and two weeks after holding the psychological empowerment training. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 software and paired t-test and Chi-square test. Results: After training, the mean score of assertiveness significantly increased from 117/93±36/13 to 149/44±36/31 (P=0/001), which shows the effect of the psychological empowerment training on the level of assertiveness of nurses in the NICU. Conclusion: After the psychological empowerment training, the assertiveness of nurses working in the NICU increased significantly. In order to improve the quality of care provided to infants and their families, it is necessary for nurses to promote their assertiveness by acquiring psychological empowerment.