An Exploration of Emotional Intelligence and Job Performance among Nurses in Rural Texas
Dr. Shannon Cox – Kelley, Dr. Madeline Justice, Dr. Lee (Rusty) Waller, Dr. Gail Johnson

Abstract
Nursing professionals are held to a variety of roles and responsibilities specific to their field. The success of nursing professionals in their specified roles is essential for quality of care and the success of the healthcare workforce. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a relationship exists between emotional intelligence and job performance among nursing professionals. Utilizing the Emotional Skills Assessment Process (ESAP), an emotional intelligence profile was gathered from 54 nurses, who were employed at two hospitals in rural East Texas. The ESAP is designed to describe the ability, capacity, or skill an individual has to identify, assess, and mange the emotions of self and others. The findings indicated that the higher the empathy score, the higher the job performance attitude score. Empathy had positive and indirect effects on job performance knowledge, job performance initiative, job performance quality, and overall job performance. The higher the empathy score, the higher the job performance knowledge, job performance initiative, job performance quality, and overall job performance scores. Deference scores on the ESAP had an indirect relationship with job performance knowledge, and ESAP stress management scores had an indirect relationship with job performance safety.

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