The awareness of emotional intelligence by nurses and support workers in an acute hospital setting

This paper describes one component of the findings of a larger study exploring the experience of ward staff and their response to patient death in an acute hospital setting. A consistent theme arising from the study was the lack of awareness of the concept of emotional intelligence and the way this could be used to manage staff members own emotions in effectively handling stressful situations involving colleagues, patients and relatives. In this article the concept of emotional intelligence within nursing is examined, including how it is recognised and used by nurses and healthcare support workers. Differences between the two staff groups in the study, in relation to their awareness and use of emotional intelligence, are discussed along with consideration of how education can help staff to identify and develop their own level of emotional intelligence.