In Daniel Goleman’s model of emotional intelligence, (EQ) there are two main competencies. Personal competency, which includes self-awareness, self-regulation, and motivation and social competency which includes social skills and empathy.
We can think of both competencies in terms of communication. The personal competency relates to our abilities to identify and value our needs, wants, limits etc and to express them respectfully i.e. speaking up. The social competency refers to our ability to observe, interpret, understand, and respect others’ feelings, thoughts, and points of view, i.e. listening.
Impact of Emotionally Intelligent Nurses
Safe nurse staffing is a complex, chronic, constantly changing, and expensive challenge with repercussions for all stakeholders. At any given moment there must be enough staff with the right skills, experience to meet the diagnostic and related needs of patients. Nurse staffing ratios present a partial solution to safe staffing in that they provide a solid baseline of staff availability and patient needs.
However, nurses who have EQ have access to vital skills that will help ensure a dynamic balance.
As individuals
Nurses with EQ are able to identify their needs and limits, feel worthy of having them and and able to express them respectfully and confidently. They will have developed an inner gauge to measure stress and recognize when overwhelm presents risks to themselves and patients. Not recognizing such limits shows up in work-related injuries, mistakes, burnout and compassion fatigue. All of which have a counter-productive impact on staffing.
As team members
As nurses go about their work and interface with a variety of healthcare teams, not only will they be able to recognize and express their own limits, they will pick up on stress-related non verbal cues expressed by colleagues as well as listen with respect when colleagues are asking for help. Offering feedback that includes concern, You look overwhelmed, do you need help? is the opposite of blaming and bullying which have been chronic problems right along side of staffing issues.
As leaders
In addition to their individual and team influences, leaders with EQ also listen to and respect the needs and limits of staff. This means advocating for resources, considering limitations an organization should have on what care it can provide safely, and holding tough conversations with staff who have a pattern of limitations that are not aligned with job expectations. It may be tempting for leaders to pressure staff or ignore requests for additional help to accommodate organizational expectations, but in the long-term it is not healthy for anyone. Evidence for this is all around us these days with incidence of strikes, quiet quitting, sentinel events, toxic cultures and more.
Summary
While EQ isn’t necessarily easy to develop and creating cultures of safety (including safe staffing) requires more in depth understanding of team and organizational behavior, EQ among nurses is vital.
One nurse with EQ that faces chronic understaffing will probably find a way out. A team of nurses with leaders who have EQ will co-create systems where realistic expectations, safe care, respectful communication, and a healthy workforce are all emerging in dynamic balance! Complex? Yes. Impossible? I don’t think so!
YES AND events for leaders
Medical Improv and the underlying principle of “YES AND” offers a powerful teaching modality for social and emotional learning. There are many articles, podcasts, and videos about it here and some upcoming events below.
“YES AND” 101 – October 20, 2023 from 1:00 – 2:30p EST (FREE)
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November 8,, 2023 “YES AND” 102 – The TOOLKIT 1-3p EST ($100 USD)
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“YES AND” 101 – December 15, 2023 from 1:00 – 2:30p EST (FREE)
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