Emotional Intelligence of Nurse Managers: An Exploratory Study.

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study are to determine the level of emotional intelligence (EI) among nurse managers (NMs) in an academic medical center and determine the relationship of EI and demographic variables.

BACKGROUND: Emotional intelligence is a concept that warrants further research in nursing because there is a huge gap in knowledge about nurse leaders' EI.

METHODS: Data were collected from 38 NMs recruited from a large academic medical center in the Northeast.

RESULTS: Mean EI scores among NMs were average. Nurse managers with less than 2 years of experience had statistically significant lower "using emotions" branch score and strategic EI. Nurse managers with a masters' degree in nursing scored significantly higher in using emotions branch score than did those with a masters' degree in a related field.

CONCLUSION: Opportunities exist to enhance the EI of NMs.