Emotional intelligence: district nurses’ lived experiences

Abstract

Emotional Intelligence, recognizing and handling ones' own and others' emotions is beginning to figure in nursing literature, with potential to enhance care, teamwork and wellbeing. District nursing is laden with complex and emotional issues yet little research investigates the value of emotional intelligence in district nursing specifically. This qualitative study adopts interpretative phenomenological analysis with five district nurses, (of different grades), to illuminate perceptions and experiences of emotional intelligence. Findings show district nurses perceive emotional intelligence to be an essential part of their role, regardless of grade or position. Despite being a relatively new concept to nurses, each participant perceived relevant attributes as essential to quality care in the home, especially in relation to palliative care. Themes identified include: self awareness, control, assessment, experience, palliative care and leadership. Only some of these are consistent with existing literature and illustrate a need to investigate this interesting area further.

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.…”

Accelerated Baccalaureate Nursing Students Use of Emotional Intelligence in Nursing as “Caring for a Human Being”: A Mixed Methods Grounded Theory Study

“…Similar to Akerjordet and Severinsson's (2004) findings, EI was found to play an important role in the nurse-patient relationship and the motivational aspect, or desire, of being caring. Similarly, the process of "getting it" parallels the assessment theme in Davies et al (2011) study and dealing with difficulty delineated in this study is easily recognized in the descriptions of the self awareness, control over emotions, and palliative care themes in their study. Conversely, themes related to the substance of supervision and responsibility (Akerjordet & Severinsson, 2004), and leadership (Davies et al 2011) did not emerge as major categories in this study as they did in the others.…”

“…However, statistically significant findings supporting such discussion remains limited, even in the most recent research representing samples of nursing students in different programs from various cultures around the world (for example, Aradillo-Herrero, Tomas-Sabado & Gomez-Benito, 2012;Beauvais, Brady, O'Shea, & Quinn Griffin, 2011;Benson, Martin, Ploeg & Wessel, 2012;Duygulu, Hicdurmaz, & Akyar, 2011). Qualitative research exploring EI in nursing education is also lacking; although in phenomenological studies in other domains of nursing, EI has been shown to be important (Akerjordet & Severinsson, 2004;Davies, Jenkins, & Mabbett, 2011). Akerjordet and Severinsson found four major themes related to mental health nurses' experiences with EI: relationship with the patient, the substance of supervision, motivation and responsibility.…”

Emotional Intelligence: The Context for Successful Nursing Leadership: A Literature Review

“…4 The benefits achieved by the employees were an improved overall health, increased work satisfaction, higher spiritual well-being and decreased burn-out. Therefore it is very important to develop emotional intelligence in leadership.…”