To examine the association of emotional intelligence with clinical competence among nursing interns in Saudi Arabia, highlighting its significance in improving nursing education and practice.
Key Findings:
Mean score for emotional intelligence was 5.0 ± 1, indicating a moderate level of EI among participants.
Mean score for clinical competence was 3.1 ± 0.9, suggesting areas for improvement.
Emotional intelligence had a significant positive effect on clinical competence (standardized coefficient = 0.62), emphasizing the need for EI training.
Age was positively associated with all subdomains of clinical competence (standardized coefficient = 0.25), indicating that experience may enhance competence.
GPA showed a significant association with emotional intelligence (standardized coefficient = 0.50), suggesting academic performance may influence EI.
Interpretation:
Emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in enhancing the clinical competence of nursing interns.
Limitations:
The study used a convenience sample, which may limit generalizability to other settings or populations.
Data was collected from a single governmental hospital, potentially affecting diversity and the applicability of findings to other healthcare environments.
Conclusion:
Integrating emotional intelligence into the nursing curriculum and providing training for nursing interns is recommended to enhance their emotional management and clinical competence, ultimately improving patient care.
