Is emotional intelligence an important concept for nursing practice?

Emotional intelligence – essential for trauma nursing

“…That is, nurses who demonstrated higher levels of EI were working at higher levels of practice. These findings are supported by Codier et al (2010) who found that nurses with higher levels of EI were less likely to focus purely on technical skills and instead showed greater consideration for holistic care and wider organisational factors. They also showed that EI is associated with expert practice.…”

A Study of the Influence of Nursing Education on Development of Emotional Intelligence

“…) Other work explored the relationship between EI and conflict, stress, and burnout in staff nurses (Budnik, 2003;Farmer, 2004;Morrison, 2008). Additional studies are beginning to identify EI as an essential component for nursing care of patients (Bailey et al, 2011;Codier et al, 2010;Codier et al, 2011;Davies et al, 2010;Kooker et al, 2007).…”

“…The evidence has been in the form of expert opinion and variable research findings. Themes found in the current nursing research included findings of nurses with high EI having an enhanced capacity to meet the multifaceted demands of practice (Beddoe & Murphy, 2004;Doherty, 2009;Lucas, Laschinger & Wong, 2008;Morrison, 2008;McQueen, 2004;Patterson & Begley, 2011;Smith, Profetto-McGrath, & Cummings, 2009;Vitello-Cicciu, 2003;Young-Ritchie, Laschinger, & Wong, 2009), and this higher level of EI in the nurses may result in improved patient outcomes (Adams et al, 2010;Bailey, Murphy, & Porock, 2011;Codier, Muneno, & Franey, 2011;Codier, Muneno, Franey, & Matsuura, 2010;Davies, Jenkins, & Mabett, 2010;Kooker, Shoultz, & Codier, 2007). In spite of these findings and conclusions, current nursing research related to EI still presents an unclear picture of the relationship of EI and nursing practice because studies have used inconsistent models of EI, thereby making critical analysis between studies difficult.…”

Measured emotional intelligence ability and grade point average in nursing students

“…Emotional intelligence ability is not at present considered a core competency in nursing, although there is a growing body of evidence that it should be (Akerjordet and Severinsson, 2007;Bulmer-Smith et al, 2009, Codier, Muneno, Franey, andMatsuura, 2010;Kooker, Shultz and Codier, 2007). In this study a significant percentage of participants scored below average in both total emotional intelligence and the using emotions to reason subscore that could be considered the "essence" of emotional intelligence.…”