Effect of Emotional Intelligence on Employee Caring Behaviour: a Study of Professional Nurses in Tertiary Health Care Institutions in Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the effect of emotional intelligence on caring behaviour of professional nurses in tertiary health care institutions in Benue State, Nigeria. Specifically the study sought to examine the effects of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management on caring behaviour of professional nurses in tertiary health care institutions in Benue State. Anchored on Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, the study adopted the survey design. Population of the study consisted of 586 professional nurses working in the two tertiary healthcare facilities in Benue State (312 from the Federal Medical Centre and 274 from the Benue State University Teaching Hospital). A sample size of 245 was arrived at with the aid of Taro Yamene’s sampling formula. Primary data were gathered through questionnaire. The data were coded and analysed with the aid of SPSS. Hypotheses of the study were tested using regression analysis at 5% level of significance. Findings revealed that self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management all have significant effect on caring behaviour of professional nurses in tertiary health care institutions in Benue State, Nigeria. The study concludes that there is a significant relationship between emotional intelligence and caring behaviour of professional nurses in tertiary health care institution in Benue State. The study recommends that in order to ensure quality care to patients, management of tertiary healthcare organisations in Benue State should recognize and develop EI abilities in nurses who constantly struggle to show care since EI can be taught and learnt.