Background: Assertiveness plays an important role in all head nurses' activities and in 
reaching high abilities of making decision. Aim: The present study aimed to assess the relation 
between head nurses' assertiveness and their decision making abilities at Tanta University 
Hospitals. Research design: Descriptive correlational research design was used in this study. 
Setting: The study was conducted at Tanta University Hospitals (The Main, Emergency and 
Ophthalmic Hospitals). The study subjects: Consisted of 115 head nurses and a representative 
sample of 673 staff nurses working at Tanta University Hospitals. Tools: Three tools were 
used to collect data Tool I: Assertiveness Structured Questionnaire Sheet. Tool II: Head 
Nurse' Assertiveness as perceived by staff nurses. Tool III: Head Nurses' Decision Making 
Abilities Questionnaire. Results: As total, majority (98.3%) of head nurses and more than 
three quarters (77.6%) of staff nurses reported that head nurses had high level of assertiveness.
Regarding head nurses' overall decision making abilities, majority (93.0%) of head nurses had 
high level of decision making abilities. Conclusion: There was a positive correlation between
head nurses' assertiveness, head nurses' assertiveness as perceived by staff nurses and head 
nurses 'decision making abilities. Recommendations: Head nurses need to support 
continuously of newly developed assertive behavior to solidify the new pattern of 
communication