Emotional Intelligence In Nursing

As nurses, one may experience varied emotions such as happiness, sadness, anxiety, failure, anger and etc. Nurses are programmed to respond to a vast array of emotions. As a nurse leader, it is critical that emotional intelligence come into play. This intelligence helps us acknowledge our emotional instinct and help us to act rational. Emotional intelligence gives us the ability to withdraw our own emotions from a situation to make a strategic decision for the benefit of a patient. According to Daniel Goleman (1998), Emotional Intelligence is "the capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions well in ourselves and in our relationships.

Leadership influences the behaviors, attitudes and thoughts of others. Effective leaders help others navigate obstacles and challenges. They can also encourage and inspire those around them. Individuals often respond to stressful situations based on how their leader handles the situation under stress. Leaders create and maintain a positive working environment. Studies have shown that leaders who consistently out perform their peers not only have the technical skills required, but more importantly, have mastered most of the aspects of EI. Leaders who regulate themselves effectively do not verbally attack others, make rushed or emotional decisions, stereotype people or compromise their values. Let’s look at the scenario below:

Scenario: “You have just come from your 6 month