Emotional Intelligence Nursing

The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Nursing

I am going to discuss the book I read, Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves. I am going to talk about the history, definitions, and major concepts of emotional intelligence. I am going to discuss three functions in nursing and how emotional intelligence is applied to them. I am going to talk about how I will use emotional intelligence in my practice and my personal growth after reading the book.

History and Concepts of Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence is the ability to understand one’s emotions, the feelings of others, how those emotions affect people, and how to use those emotions to manage ourselves and relationships effectively (Salovey & Mayer, 1990).

John Mayer wanted to measure the differences in people’s ability to recognize, understand, utilize, and regulate emotions (Mann, 2012). Although Salovey and Mayer came up with the concept, Daniel Goleman is essentially responsible for bringing it to the public (Mann, 2012). According to Mann (2012), how successful one is in their career and professional life is attributed to their emotional intelligence. Unlike intelligence quotient (IQ) scores, emotional intelligence scores can be improved over time (Faguy, 2012). According to Savel and Munro (2016), Daniel Goleman’s five core dimensions of emotional intelligence are self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Multiple variations of emotional intelligence exist, however, Daniel Goleman and Travis Bradberry’s models are commonly used (Savel & Munro, 2016). According to Bradberry & Greaves (2009), the four skills of emotional intelligence are self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. The first two skills pertain to personal competence, in which the focus is on oneself, while

The nurse I was assigned to that day was promptly called to the patient’s room because the baby was at risk for shoulder dystocia. When we arrived, the room was chaotic and filled with nurses ready to help at any moment. When the baby’s head was out, one of the nurses standing next to the bed literally dove towards the baby in anticipation that she would need to rotate the shoulders. Since this was the first birth that I saw, I was excited yet confused because I had no idea what was going on at the time. During that birth, I demonstrated self-management because even though I was confused as to what was happening, I remained calm and was able to help the nurses. I react well to chaotic situations because I do not become stressed or flustered and get done whatever needs to be done in a calm manner.

How Emotional Intelligence can be Applied in my own Practice

After I graduate, I want to get a few years of experience working in an emergency department or jail and then get my certification to be a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE). Emotional intelligence is important in nursing to ensure the best possible care, however, I believe that it is especially important for a SANE nurse. Dealing with children or adult victims of physical or sexual abuse is difficult not only for the nurse but also for the patients. Being able to read