Emotional intelligence (EI) is one of the human characteristics, and it’s becoming more widely recognised as a factor in medicine, nursing and other healthcare fields

Every workplace has stressful moments. Employees are frequently told to keep their emotions under check. Though most people would agree that suppressing emotions isn’t always good. Emotional intelligence, on the other hand, takes a unique approach. It’s also become a much-desired skill set among employers. People’s IQ (intelligence quotient) may have an impact on how well they do at work. However, emotional intelligence may be a more accurate indicator of success.

Estelle Cordier talks about the ‘Ability Model’, which is based on John Mayer and Peter Salovey’s work. EI, according to this concept, entails:

• Correctly identifying emotions in oneself and other
• Using emotions to reason
• Understanding emotions
• Managing emotions.

Why is Emotional Intelligence Important in Healthcare?

An RN’s most significant attribute may be emotional intelligence. Nurses have a wide range of responsibilities, and their daily duties might be rather varied, but the fundamental purpose of an RN is to deliver high-quality care. Empathy is a key component. Emotion is crucial in healthcare when it comes to developing patient confidence. Patients may be more inclined to stick to their treatment plan if they feel trusted. Emotional intelligence, in particular, may influence patient safety. “To Err Is Human,” a study of the Institute of Medicine (IOM), now the National Academy of Medicine, was issued in 1999. According to the Institute of Medicine, avoidable medical mistakes are responsible for up to 98,000 patient fatalities in hospitals each year.

Emotional Quotient (EQ) and Patient Outcomes

According to studies, one of the characteristics that distinguish the most successful medical organisations from the rest is EQ. The physician-patient interaction can benefit from having good emotional intelligence. They can collaborate more effectively to achieve a faster recovery. Doctors seek out innovative remedies, and patients follow all instructions provided to them. There is also a greater sense of empathy among all those involved. Individuals can comprehend the challenges that individuals around them are through, allowing them to be more patient and understanding. People are kinder to one another, thus it’s a less stressful situation. Even when others aren’t cooperating, their emotions are managed such that they aren’t affected. The importance of excellent communication is also recognised. Increased communication is associated with better EQ, ensuring that all parties are on the same page during the treatment process. All of your nagging queries are promptly answered. They don’t fester or leave any questions unanswered.

Healthcare Professionals’ Efforts to Improve EQ

Emotional intelligence is a skill that may be developed. With the right instruction, even people who have difficulty controlling their emotions may learn to do so. It only requires a person’s determination to improve. To achieve changes across the board, organisations should offer help to their employees, nurses, and physicians. To improve patient care, training sessions might be held. The majority of doctors and nurses are too concerned with their patients’ physical rehabilitation. They fail to recognise that these individuals have emotional needs that must also be satisfied. Nurses may notice specific trends in their patients’ behaviour, for example. They can improve their interactions with these people by adjusting their behaviour. Adjustments can also be made to improve co-worker interactions.

Steps Towards Improved Patient Care

The majority of doctor complaints are about inadequate communication rather than clinical competence, and enhancing communication in health care is a hot topic in policy and practice right now. Given the focus on insights into one’s own and others’ emotions that EI models describe, it might be used to explain why some practitioners seem to be better at providing patient-centered care than others. Emotional assessment and discrimination might affect the quality and accuracy of history collection and diagnosis. Furthermore, physicians may be better able to grasp why particular therapies are more or less acceptable to some patients if they can comprehend their emotional reactions to recommended medicines or lifestyle recommendations. The capacity to control and understand emotions appears to be a vital talent for any health practitioner, and it has the potential to improve patient-centred treatment and the professional-patient relationship.

Training and Healthcare Curricular

The concept that people may be taught to be more emotionally intelligent is widely debated in nurse management literature. It’s possible that raising EI in healthcare workers may lead to more effective management and better-functioning teams of experts, as well as direct advantages to patient care. However, determining the usefulness of EI training presents several difficulties. EI’s receptivity to training is unknown. Some models offer competencies that can be gained by training, while others describe personality qualities that are difficult to modify, implying that EI cannot be meaningfully impacted through training. Furthermore, it is unknown if existing measurements are sensitive enough to detect changes in response to training over time.