Effect of Emotional Intelligence on Caring Behaviors Among Nurses in a Selected Hospital, Ajman, UAE

Abstract

Background & Aim:

Caring is the basic factor that distinguishes between nurses and other health. Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand and manage one’s own emotions, and recognize, understand, and influence the emotions of others. The present study was carried out to assess the effect of Emotional Intelligence on Caring Behavior among Nurses in UAE

Materials and Methods:

A quantitative approach using a descriptive cross-sectional design was used for this study among 91 nurses at Thumbay University Hospital, Ajman, using total enumeration sampling.  The tools used were a Schutte self-report Emotional Intelligence (EI) test and a Caring behavioral inventory CBI. Data were entered into an Excel sheet and an SPSS package was used to analyze the data.

Results:

The present study revealed that 44 (48.4%) of the nurses were of age 21-30 years and 62 (68.1%) had 0-10 years of experience. The mean emotional intelligence score of nurses was 128.6 with a SD of ± 14.2 and a mean percentage of 77.93. The mean caring behavior score of nurses was 4.5 with an SD of ± 0.6 and a mean percentage of 75%. a weak positive 0.299 correlation between emotional intelligence & and caring behavior which is significant at a 0.05 level of significance. 

Conclusion

The study has highlighted the importance and need of improving emotional Intelligence to enhance the quality in caring. CNEs can be conducted for nurses to understand on how to improve Emotional Intelligence.

Key Words:  Emotional Intelligence, Caring Behavior, Nurses