The impact of displaying emotional competence within peer to peer interactions and the care of behavioral health patients

2^nd International Conference on Nursing & Healthcare

November 17-19, 2014 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago-North Shore Conference Center, USA

Michelle Doas

Accepted Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

Emotional competence is a skill set vital to professional nursing practice. Emotional competence refers to the ability to appropriately manage and express one?s emotions. Management of one?s emotions within both peer to peer and patient interactions is imperative in a psychiatric/behavioral health unit. Additionally, emotionally competent professionals effectively deal with their emotions in situations, without suppressing others. In emotionally competent environments, individuals display a mutual respect for patients and colleagues, a commitment to take responsibility for actions and behaviors, a desire to respectfully correct faulty situations, and the ability to assume full responsibility for self-actions. This presentation will provide an overview of a descriptive study which explored the concept of emotional competence in today?s health care environment from practicing psychiatric registered nurses on inpatient nursing units. Registered nurses were asked to identify interactions of emotional competence experienced on nursing units. Content analysis revealed deficits in emotional competence by the following themes: self-awareness, mood management, self-motivation, empathy, and managing relationships. Results can assist managers, administrators and educators on ways to develop emotionally competent programs/environments that are vital to building strong individuals, team, and interdisciplinary networks.