Holistic Assertiveness Skills for Nurses Enpower Yourself (and Others!)

Military Medicine, Oct 2003 by Stinson, Janice

Holistic Assertiveness Skills for Nurses Enpower Yourself (and Others!) Caroline C. Clark Springer Publishing Company

This is a timely self-help book intended as a workbook not only for nurses but working personnel who experience lack of support and power in the workplace and elsewhere. It is timely because, with the current nursing shortage, this book provides exercises designed to decrease stress, manage burnout and assist managers to become more effective in increasing worker and personal satisfaction.

The book uses the term, "holistic," in its title suggesting that mind, body and psycho-social support from others are needed in approaching a lack of power. However, only in Chapter 3, "Calling on Energetic and Holistic Resources," are holistic strategies are considered. Few research studies are used to support suggestions for nutritional interventions for relieving stress and an Indian holistic stress-relieving philosophy, "Ayurveda," is introduced without any scientific evidence.

The other chapters give very useful advice on dealing with interpersonal confrontational issues such as the ability to say no, taking and giving criticism, time management skills, managing anger, and gender issues. Additionally, there are techniques on how to orchestrate career management, such as how to conduct interviews and approach nurse leadership issues. It appears that the holistic piece was largely used in the title to attract readers to a 'buzz' word commonly used in the nursing literature.

There are a number of helpful suggestions for assisting nurses in directing their energies toward career enhancement. However, the intervention, i.e., the use of a nurse consultant, is mentioned one too many times, and it makes this reviewer wonder if the author were overemphasizing the use of her services. There are also a number of typographical errors in the text which could distract the reader.

A strength of the book is the inclusion of numerous practical exercises for each chapter, emphasizing individual enpowerment and stress management. Nurse leaders would find the final chapter helpful in problem-solving techniques and ways to increase worker retention.

Reviewed by:

CAPT Janice Stinson, NC, USNR

University of California, San Francisco