Emotional Intelligence in Nursing: The Heart of the Art – A Review

Abstract

Emotional labour has long been recognized as a necessary part of nursing practice. Nurses often provide care for patients and families who are suffering and where emotions are heightened. Emotions play an important role in the relationship and communication between nurses, patients and families. Nowadays nursing is becoming more and more technical. The rational mind and the emotional mind need to be balanced partners for the nurse-patient relationship to be harmonious. Every nursing intervention is affected by the master aptitude of emotional intelligence. People who are emotionally intelligent see themselves as more optimistic, as they are better able to understand, manipulate, and regulate their emotions. This paper reflects on how emotional intelligence contributes immensely to the art and craft of nursing which is a practice discipline.

Areas of work‐life, psychological capital and emotional intelligence on compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction among nurses: A cross‐sectional study

“…Human relationships and emotions are an integral part of quality nursing care (Dugué et al, 2021;Nightingale et al, 2018). Emotional intelligence is thus considered an essential ability that helps nurses deliver effective nursing interventions and provide compassionate patient care (Castelino & Mendonca, 2021;Lu & Shorey, 2021).…”

“…Human relationships and emotions are an integral part of quality nursing care (Dugué et al., 2021; Nightingale et al., 2018). Emotional intelligence is thus considered an essential ability that helps nurses deliver effective nursing interventions and provide compassionate patient care (Castelino & Mendonca, 2021; Lu & Shorey, 2021). There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that nurses with a sufficient level of emotional intelligence are better able to meet the demands of their work and attain better patient outcomes and patient satisfaction (Adams & Iseler, 2014; Gelkop et al., 2022; Lu & Shorey, 2021).…”