[Relationship between assertiveness and critical thinking in nursing students]

Assertiveness and critical thinking help improve the academic practice of nursing students. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between assertiveness and critical thinking in nursing students. This analytical and correlation study was performed on 213 nursing students in Tehran University of Medical Sciences using convenient sampling. Main study tools were California critical thinking skills test [CCTST] and assertiveness inventory of Gambril and Richi. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 software using ANOVA, chi square and Pearson correlation coefficient test. Mean scores of assertiveness and critical thinking for nursing students were 68.15 +/- 12.79 and 9.32 +/- 3.38. Many students had moderate level of assertiveness [89.7%] and most of them had unusual level of critical thinking [94.8%]. Pearson correlation coefficient test showed a direct correlation between assertiveness and critical thinking [r=0.045] with no significant difference between the two variables [P=0.51]. It is necessary to revise the teaching strategy to improve the level of critical thinking in nursing curriculum. To achieve assertiveness training in nurses, efforts should be made to identifying and support nursing students who have low levels of critical thinking

[ effect of the assertiveness training program on nursing students' assertiveness skills]

Assertiveness is an important skill for nurses in order to successfully communicate with patients, families and colleagues. Assertiveness increases people's self-esteem and self-confidence, improves interpersonal communication, and leads to the development of personality and internal locus of control. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the assertiveness training program on nursing students' assertiveness skills. Using a quasi-experimental design, two out of three nursing classrooms held for students entering fall 2011 [n=55], and one out of two for those entering spring 2012 [n=34] were randomly selected. The former as the control group was pre-tested and post-tested after two weeks. The latter as the experimental group was undertaken the assertiveness training program and was tested similarly to the control group. The Gambrill and Richey assertiveness questionnaire along with some demographic questions were used to collect data. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The mean of assertiveness scores in the pre-tests in both groups did not show a significant difference [P=0.6]. While no statistically significant change in the control group [P=0.09] was reported, a significant increase in the scores of the experimental group was shown after the training program [P=0.005]. The assertiveness training program increased the students' level of assertiveness. It is recommended to investigate the effect of improving self-esteem, problem-solving and social communication skills on nursing students' level of assertiveness

[Assertiveness and anxiety in midwifery and nursing students]

High levels of assertiveness and low levels of anxiety are important factors that result in suitable communication. They also increase intellectual abilities, abstract thought, power and autonomy, and personal well-being among nursing and midwifery students. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between assertiveness and anxiety among midwifery and nursing students. In this correlational, cross-sectional study, 173 nursing students [68 males and 105 females] were recruited using census and rational methods. Seventy seven midwifery students were also recruited using census method. Data were collected using a self-report tool including "personal information form", "Trait Spilberger Anxiety", and "Assertion Inventory" [AI] of Gambrill and Richey. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Results showed that more than half of the nursing and midwifery students [59.5% and 59.7%, respectively] had moderate assertiveness. Also, 43.3% and 36.4% of them had moderate and high levels of anxiety. Pearson correlation test revealed that assertiveness and anxiety had negative correlations in nursing [r=-0.51, P<0.001] and midwifery [r=-0.449, P<0.001] students. Some demographic variables had significant correlations with assertiveness and anxiety among the students. Regarding the relationship between assertiveness and anxiety and their effect on mental health, as well as educational and occupational functions of the students, more attention is needed to pay to theses issues. Also, it seems that appropriate interventions should be planned to increase assertiveness and to decrease anxiety among the students

[Comparison of the sources of stress among the senior nursing and midwifery students of Tehran medical sciences universities]

Nursing and Midwifery students experience different and numerous sources of stress. Stress is a complex phenomenon that may be experienced by all. Nursing and midwifery students have multiple sources of stress due to their work environment. In order to reduce their stress and prevent the complications, all sources of stress should be recognized. This study was carried out to compare sources of stress between midwifery and nursing students of Tehran universities of medical sciences. This is a cross-sectional study. All senior midwifery and nursing students of Tehran and Shahid Beheshti Universities were invited to participate in the study [n=380]. Data were collected using a questionnaire including demographic section [15 questions] and sources of stress of educational environment, clinical environment, and social-personal problems [54 items]. Data were analyzed using SPSS and tested with chi-square test. 363 students participated in the study. Research findings showed that the followings are the most cited sources of stress among the students: ambiguous professional view, incompetent professional knowledge after graduation, caring for terminally ill patients, discordance between theory and clinical education, concerns about employment. Also results showed that there were significant differences between some sources of stress and the study programs. The nursing and midwifery students had numerous sources of stress in the educational, clinical, and social-personal domains of their life that can affect their physical and psychological health and cause learning problems. Using appropriate approaches to control and manage these sources of stress are recommended

[Outcomes of the performance appraisal and its relation with nurses job motivation]

The main aim of performance appraisal is aid to staff development and increasing job motivation. Outcomes of performance appraisal consider as a determining indicators of the amount of success in achieving the mentioned aims. The aim of this study is to determine the employed nurses' views regarding the performance appraisal's outcomes and its relation with job motivation in medical-surgical wards of affiliated hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. This investigation is a descriptive correlational study. The sample size was 120 of employed nurses in medical-surgical units in Tehran University of Medical Science that was selected by cluster sampling. The data was collected by questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used for analysis. Perception of the most samples was almost positive [65%] about performance appraisal's outcomes. They believed that the rate of the job motivation in surveyed units was low. There was a statistical significance relationship between performance improvement as one of the outcomes of the performance appraisal and job motivation [p<0.05]. Aiding to nurses performance improvement with using of performance appraisal was the only factor that was correlate with the job motivation in comparison with the other expectances of performance appraisal

[Association between adolescent girls anxiety and parental style of control]

In order to present any level of education and care of children by nurses, there is need to be a strong and favorite interrelationship between parents and their children. Background of this relationship must be recognized in texture of family [parental control] and regard to the duty of nurses continuance of family relationship is necessary. At the same time it must be adopted policies to compatible with child mentality and help to reduce his/her anxiety. This study is a descriptive correlation research to determine association between patterns of parental style of control with adolescents anxiety, it performed in Ten schools in Tehran in this research data have been collected with two questionnaire for [student, parents] the samples was consisted 370 students [13 to 15 years] and their parents, these instrument consisted demographic characteristics [for student and parents], Physiological indicator anxiety [for parent], and Reynolds and Richmond anxiety test for students. The data were the Analyzed by [SPSS] computer software. Result show that Anxiety in the student was 33% and Anxiety 7.6% and student have been Authoritarian parents had high score of Anxiety 92%. This finding shows a significant correlation between Anxiety and parental style of control [p<0.05]. According to the finding parent style control has important role in mental health of children. School nurses can play important role in education of best style control of parenting with adolescents and decrease of Anxiety from it

[Individual factors related to acceptance of mentally retarded adolescent by their family]

Disorders of intelligence is associate with lack of growth in physical, social and educational dimensions. Also it can cause many problems for patient and their family in context of care and maintenance of patient. Psychiatric nurse recognize this problems and helping to resolve them. They can play the effective role to acceptance of mentally retarded adolescent by their family. This research is a descriptive analytical cross-sectional study. Out of research population 406 subject were selected among sponsors of mentally retarded adolescent through convenient sampling [199 subjects had accepted their young adults in their families "daily class" and 207 subjects who had repelled their mentally retarded children "nightly class"] Data were collected through interview and filling questionnaire. And then were analyzed through SPSS software by using descriptive statistics and statistical tests like X[2] and t-test [in depended group]. Findings of this research showed that among demographic characteristics of clients like age, level of education, causes and extent of mental-retardedness of Adolescents and acceptance by the family there is a significant correlation [p<0.05]. There are also meaningful relation among individual factor such as ability to wear clothes, ability to feed, observing individual hygiene, precedence of lack of control on urine and stool, precedence of sleep disorder in form of insomnia, record of sensitivity and quick resentment, affliction to psychological disease, the problem of setting up communication with others, profile of hurting oneself and others, making noise and disturbance for others and background of escaping from home, and acceptance of mentally retarded young adult by family [df=1 p<0.001]. Results from this research showed that psychiatric nurses could recognize the individual factors which obstacle the mentally retarded adolescent in family. They could help to better this factors for acceptance this client. These results can be used in management, clinic, education and research in nursing

[Level of coping with stressors in parents of epileptic children]

Epilepsy as the most important chronic neurological disease affects on child and his/her family therefore it can lead to occur some stresses in family particularly in parents. This study has been done to determine ideas of parents with epileptic children about stressors and their coping with this agent in those who come to the optional therapeutic centers in Tehran. This is a descriptive-analytical research which 400 parents with epileptic children were selected based on aim. The method of collecting data was by questionnaire for literate persons and by interview for illiterates whose research tool was questionnaire. The questionnaire was prepared in three parts [demographic information's, stressors questions, and coping questions for parents with epileptic children. The data was collected in one stage and analyzed with SPSS software. To analyze the data, descriptive and inferential statistical methods [t-test, analyze variance] have been used. Statistical analysis showed that there is significant differences in stress between parents [p=0.001]. The most percentage [86%] of fathers in comparison mothers [81.9%] have moderate level of stress and least percentage [5.4%] fathers and [4.4%] of mothers have low level of stress. The level of stress in parents showed significant correlation with personal variables. Most percentage [69%] of fathers and mothers [66.1%] have low-moderate level of coping and it has significant correlation with some personal variables. The analyze variance test showed that there was significant and converse relationship between stress and coping in parents with epileptic children and increasing stress lead to decrease coping. The results of this study have been shown that the stress in father of epileptic children is more that mothers; however there is no significant differences in the level of coping