Nursing students' perceived stress: Interaction with emotional intelligence and self‐leadership

Abstract

Purpose The aim of the current study was to determine how emotional intelligence and self‐leadership levels could be related to perceived stress. Design and Methods A total of 341 nursing students were enrolled in this descriptive correlational study. Study measures included a sociodemographic form, Emotional Intelligence Evaluation Scale, Revised Self‐Leadership Questionnaire, and Perceived Stress Scale for Nursing Students. Findings Results showed that ‘‘assignments and workload’’ as well as “taking care of patients” were the highest sources of stress in clinical training. The emotional intelligence and self‐leadership levels had a significant negative correlation with the perceived stress. Practice Implications Perceived stress affects students' academic and social success negatively. Therefore, it is important to develop students' emotional intelligence levels, self‐leadership perceptions.

Nurse Managers' Perceived Self-leadership Levels

“…This study identified a slight statistically significant relationship between SL levels and age, which is inconsistent with other studies indicating no relationship between age and SL 14,34,36 . These data suggest that maturity may bring broader life experiences, acquired knowledge, and responsibilities in increasing levels of SL 49 …”

“…Published studies on SL among nurses were identified from countries outside the United States including South Korea, [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] , South Africa, 33 Turkey, 12,14 Iran, 34 Egypt, 35 Lesotho, 36 and Sri Lanka. 37 Results from a few of these international studies include nurses' communication capabilities and SL being connected, 24,25,28 a positive relationship between job performance and SL, 14,24,28 communication competence impacting SL, 25,28 a positive relationship between knowledgesharing behavior and innovative work behavior and SL, 37 a positive relationship among nursing students' SL and their perception of learning, 26 a negative relationship between burnout and SL, 24,26 and nurses' SL levels predicting nurses providing person-centered care for oncology patients. 27 Two studies in Korea reported a correlation (r = −0.42, P < 0.01) between SL and burnout among nurses; thus, when SL levels increased, burnout declined.…”

“…After the SL training program, participants reported higher levels of SL. Researchers in Turkey found a statistically significant, negative correlation among 1st-year nursing students between the level of perceived stress and both levels of emotional intelligence and SL ( r = −0.21 and r = −0.20, respectively) 14 . As SL and emotional intelligence levels increased, perceived stress decreased.…”

“…8,11 Research among many nonnursing populations has shown that SL is essential for a healthy work environment, 7,12 reduces stress, 4,5,13,14 improves psychological capital, 15 increases job satisfaction, 8 increases self-efficacy, 13 improves individual and job performance, 16 increases self-esteem and life satisfaction, 17 and facilitates empowerment and voice. 14 Nurse managers (NMs) experience many demands and responsibilities, including providing administrative and clinical leadership 24 hours a day, while executing organizational initiatives and providing support to frontline nurses. 17,18 They play an integral role in positive patient outcomes, job satisfaction, staff retention, and turnover.…”

“…Researchers have also concluded SL is a skill that can be learned 8,11 . Research among many nonnursing populations has shown that SL is essential for a healthy work environment, 7,12 reduces stress, 4,5,13,14 improves psychological capital, 15 increases job satisfaction, 8 increases self-efficacy, 13 improves individual and job performance, 16 increases self-esteem and life satisfaction, 17 and facilitates empowerment and voice 14 …”