Identifying emotional intelligence in professional nursing practice.

Full Abstract

The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projects that the shortage of registered nurses in the United States will double by 2010 and will nearly quadruple to 20% by 2015 (Bureau of Health Professionals Health Resources and Services Administration. [2002]. Projected supply, demand, and shortages of registered nurses, 2000-2020 [On-line]. Available:
http:bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/reports/rnprojects/report.htm). The purpose of this study was to use the conceptual framework of emotional intelligence to analyze nurses' stories about their practice to identify factors that could be related to improved nurse retention and patient/client outcomes. The stories reflected evidence of the competencies and domains of emotional intelligence and were related to nurse retention and improved outcomes. Nurses recognized their own strengths and limitations, displayed empathy and recognized client needs, nurtured relationships, used personal influence, and acted as change agents. Nurses were frustrated when organizational barriers conflicted with their knowledge/intuition about nursing practice, their communications were disregarded, or their attempts to create a shared vision and teamwork were ignored. Elements of professional nursing practice, such as autonomy, nurse satisfaction, respect, and the professional practice environment, were identified in the excerpts of the stories. The shortage of practicing nurses continues to be a national issue. The use of emotional intelligence concepts may provide fresh insights into ways to keep nurses engaged in practice and to improve nurse retention and patient/client outcomes.

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Author information

Author/s: Kooker, Barbara Molina (BM); Shoultz, Jan (J); Codier, Estelle E (EE);

Affiliation: University of Hawaii School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA. bkooker@queens.org

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of professional nursing : official journal of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (J Prof Nurs), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2007 Jan-Feb; vol 23 (issue 1) : pp 30-6

Dates: Created 2007/02/12; Completed 2007/04/20;

PMID: 17292131, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Attitude of Health Personnel
Awareness
Communication
Conflict (Psychology)
Emotions
Frustration
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Services Needs and Demand
Humans
Intelligence
Interprofessional Relations
Intuition

Intuition
Job Satisfaction
Models, Nursing
Nurse's Role - psychology
Nursing Methodology Research
Nursing Staff - education; organization & administration; psychology
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Personality
Personnel Turnover
Professional Autonomy
Professional Competence - standards
Self Concept

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