CONTEMPORARY NURSE, cilt.43, sa.1, ss.90-98, 2012 (SCI-Expanded)
The effect of a course on self-awareness and communication techniques on nursing students' assertiveness and self-esteem was examined. The Rathus Assertiveness Schedule and Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory were used to measure assertiveness and self-esteem in second-year students in an undergraduate nursing school. Seventy-nine students completed the course. The study was designed as a pre-test and post-test study. A significant difference between assertiveness and self-esteem scores of students in pre-test and post-test measurements was found. There was a positive relationship between assertiveness and self-esteem. The course lasted 14 weeks for a total of 3 h per week. The teaching methods focused mostly on active student participation, demonstration, role play, experience and experience sharing, homework, constructive feedback, and watching films. These educational approaches should be evaluated in future studies and adopted in the curriculum. This study provides a basis for the development of learner-centred teaching methods.