Understanding and Managing Emotional Intelligence for Nursing Students: A Classroom Innovation

Background: Nursing students are bombarded with multiple stressors. Understanding emotional intelligence (EI) and implementing EI strategies in school can help students learn more effective emotional skills. The Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Four-Branch Ability Model of EI defines EI as an ability to perceive, use, understand, and manage one's own, as well as others' emotions. Method: The goal was to increase junior baccalaureate nursing students' knowledge about EI, provide information about their EI scores, and teach students EI strategies. Two instruments were used to provide students' feedback on their EI score. Results: Students were active participants in this educational innovation on EI knowledge and were able to verbalize what they learned about EI and how they planned to implement EI strategies in their nursing practice. Conclusion: Integration of EI competencies in nursing education programs could help future nurses cope and manage stressors associated with their job, as well as increase nurse retention and job satisfaction.