A study to assess the emotional intelligence among the nursing students in college of nursing, JIPMER, Puducherry

Background: “Emotional Intelligence includes the ability to engage in sophisticated information processing about one’s own and others emotions, the ability to use this information as a guide for thinking and behaviour. That is individuals high in emotional intelligence pay attention to use, understand and manage emotions and these skills serve adaptive functions that potentially benefit themselves and others”. International studies identifies that emotional intelligence influences nurses’ work and relationship with patients. It is associated with comparison and care. Nursing students scored higher on measures of emotional intelligence compared to other students. Emotional intelligence increases with age and tends to be higher in women. The purpose of the study was to assess the level of emotional intelligence among nursing students in College of Nursing, JIPMER, Puducherry. Objectives: a) Primary objective: • To measure the level of emotional intelligence among the nursing students. b) Secondary objective: • To find the association of emotional intelligence with selected socio-demographic variables. Methodology: The study was conducted in JIPMER, Puducherry in College of Nursing. Total of 207 samples who satisfied the inclusive criteria were selected using a non-probability convenient sampling technique. The baseline data was collected using demographic proforma and structured questionnaire was used to assess the level of emotional intelligence among the nursing students. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data collected. Results: In total of 207 students, a majority 130 (62.8%) subjects reported average level of emotional intelligence and a minimal subjects of 77 (37.2%) reported high level of emotional intelligence. The study reported that none of the students reported low level of emotional intelligence. In this study, the findings showed no association between emotional intelligence and sociodemographic variables. Conclusion: The study reveals that the level of emotional intelligence is average 130 (62.8%) among nursing students in College of Nursing, JIPMER and the sociodemographic variables had no association on emotional intelligence.