Dooley, Dolores

East, Leah

Nagle, Cate

2019

<b>Background:</b> Emotional intelligence defined as the ability to recognise and respond appropriately to emotions in oneself and others is valued within nursing and midwifery professions.<br/> <b>Objective:</b> To explore nursing and midwifery students' understanding and experiences of emotional intelligence in their undergraduate program.<br/> <b>Methods:</b> Semi-structured interviews were conducted with undergraduate nursing and midwifery students. Data were recorded, transcribed and underwent thematic analysis.<br/> <b>Findings:</b>Three themes emerged from the interviews with seven participants: Emotional intelligence and undergraduate studies, <i>Emotionally needed to be invested</i>; Emotional intelligence and the clinical environment, <i>I don't want to like harden up</i>; and Emotional intelligence and patient care, <i>I just felt helpless</i>.<br/> <b>Conclusion:</b>The impact of emotions and subsequent behaviours on students' theoretical learning and clinical practice was significant. Students' often felt ill-prepared to portray emotional intelligence, particularly within the clinical environment.<br/> <b>Impact Statement:</b> This study provided valuable insights into nursing and midwifery students' understanding and experiences of emotional intelligence.

Contemporary Nurse, 55(4-5), p. 341-350

1839-3535

1037-6178

31462166

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/30865

en

Routledge

Emotional intelligence: a qualitative study of student nurses' and midwives' theoretical and clinical experience

Journal Article

Publication