Even if you try to live a healthy lifestyle, sometimes you’ll get sick. This may range from a mild cold or flu to a terminal illness. While you can be proactive about your health, sometimes it can seem like the luck of the draw, with seemingly healthy people falling ill for no apparent reason. That’s why healthcare settings, such as doctors’ surgeries, hospitals and other healthcare centers, are so crucial to a functioning society. It’s vital to get the essential care that you need when you’re unwell. Whether it’s a check-up at your local doctor’s or an extended stay in hospital, you can be grateful that these primary healthcare settings exist. However, have you ever wondered about the value of assertiveness in a healthcare setting? This goes both ways, with healthcare professionals who have studied online DNP programs and patients and carers needing to be assertive. This informative and helpful article will share all about the value of being assertive in a healthcare setting. Continue reading to learn more.
What is Assertive Communication?
Some people think that being assertive is being aggressive, and to assert yourself is to get angry, defensive, and challenging. This is not the case. Being assertive means communicating your wants, needs, feelings, beliefs, opinions and mind to others in an honest, direct and straightforward manner. At the same time, when being assertive, you need to be open and receptive to the other person’s needs, feelings and well-being.
Using a direct communication style can reduce conflict and enhance your personal, professional and family relationships. If it helps, you can frame assertiveness as a healthy middle ground between passivity and aggression.
As this article continues, we’ll explain why being assertive is valuable in a healthcare context.
Assertion as a Healthcare Professional
As a healthcare professional, you’re responsible for the care of people when they’re at their most vulnerable. People attend hospitals or other healthcare settings for a variety of reasons. From broken limbs, major emergency surgery, mental health crises, routine procedures and a whole slew of other reasons. It makes sense that when seeking healthcare assistance, people can be confused, upset, angry or even aggressive. As a worker in a healthcare setting, you’re entitled to be safe and secure and ensure your well-being while you’re at work.
On the other hand, you need to be compassionate and friendly and have an upbeat bedside manner as a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional. You don’t want to perpetuate the stereotype of the cold, clinical and uncaring medical professional. Being kind, courteous and polite goes a long way to making patients feel comfortable, safe and secure while in your care. You can find an excellent middle ground in your communication style by practising assertion.
For instance, if a patient is being difficult, is getting upset or is refusing treatment that will benefit them, you can explain, using evidence and your expert opinion, that you’re entrusted with their care and that the advice you’re giving them is to their benefit.
Some ways to be assertive in your manner can be using plain, clear language, warm and open body language and a pleasant tone. However, you should still convey the point that you need to make as it pertains to the patient’s care. Avoid raising your voice or crossing your arms, and ensure that you make eye contact with the patient.
If a patient becomes angry, aggressive or confrontational, you should remain calm and reiterate that you’re there to help and that you won’t tolerate being yelled at or abused. In extreme cases, you can call security or the police for assistance, but this should be a last resort and only if you feel unsafe or threatened.
Assertiveness as a Patient
As a patient, you must learn assertive communication methods so that you can advocate for your care. Sometimes, health professionals, although well-intentioned, can come across as dismissive or not listening. They may also make mistakes, and sometimes, a course of treatment or a suggestion isn’t in your best interests. In these cases, you must learn to speak up for yourself without becoming aggressive or confrontational.
There are benefits to being assertive when receiving healthcare, whether that’s at your regular doctor or while staying in the hospital. If you’re assertive, your needs, wants, and feelings as a patient are more likely to be understood. You’ll also feel respected, heard, and valued, and you’ll like your input matters. You’ll strengthen the relationship with your healthcare provider, and you’ll avoid unnecessary conflict and arguments.
You’ll also feel in control of your care, and being assertive will have positive benefits to your self-esteem and confidence levels during a period of illness where these things need nurturing.
How to Be Assertive as a Patient
Assertiveness is a skill, and like any other skill, it can take time and practice to master. Consider the following ways you can practice assertion while you’re receiving healthcare.
For instance, you can make a conscious decision to be assertive rather than aggressive or passive. You can talk to yourself in your mind when preparing to discuss with your doctor or therapist. Committing to changing your behaviour can be a significant part of this process.
Reflect on a conflict you’ve had in your life when your wants, needs, or feelings weren’t respected or validated. Remind yourself that by being assertive, you can prevent this situation from occurring again. Think about how you could have handled that situation differently.
You can even practice talking in an assertive method, either by yourself or with a trusted friend or family member. Pay attention to your body language, tone of voice and verbal cues.
When being assertive as a patient, it’s essential to respect the wants, needs and feelings of your care team as well. Try to see them as a partner in a collaborative relationship, rather than a foe or enemy. Be honest with your feelings, but avoid accusations or manipulative approaches.
You can use assertive statements and language, such as “when you”, “I feel“, and “I’d prefer this”. For instance, if you disagree with a treatment approach, you can voice your discomfort and ask if there is an alternative approach that would be as effective.
Assertiveness as a Carer
Suppose you’re caring for someone receiving healthcare who is unable to advocate for themselves due to their age, disability or other health status. In that case, it’s essential to be assertive in your capacity as a carer. Use all the advice in this article when speaking up for the person you care for. Ensure they are involved in the process to the fullest extent of their capacity.
In Summary
This helpful article has shared all about the value of being assertive in a healthcare setting for both healthcare practitioners and patients. Assertion is a valuable skill that will serve you well in all areas of your life – not just in healthcare settings.
