| Abstract [eng] |
Emotional intelligence in the practical work of nurses is the dominating factor for the existence and comprehension of emotions as well as the maintenance of essential human relations. Emotional intelligence works as a mediator of stress and satisfaction with life enabling emotionally intelligent nurses to experience lower level of both burnout and somatic complaints as well as reduce negative impact of distress. The aim of this research – to analyse the connections between emotional intelligence and the distress experienced at work. Research methodology. Quantitative research has been accomplished with the questionnaire used as an instrument. For the analysis of data, SPSS 23.0 for Windows software package has been applied with the sample consisting of 321 nurses. This research has been fulfilled following the ethics principles. Research results. It has been determined that personal emotional competence of nurses has been considerably higher compared to the interpersonal one. Nurses have evaluated the comprehension and management of their own emotions significantly higher than the comprehension and management of emotions belonging to others; however, they have recognised other people’s emotions more successfully than their own ones. Higher work positions occupied by nurses have shown the link with greater interpersonal emotional competence as well as with more successful management of emotions belonging to others. When evaluating the total emotional intelligence and its competences negative connections with work experience and age have been identified, whereas the nurses with higher education have demonstrated considerably higher rates. The distress symptoms within nurses met most frequently are: fatigue, sleep disorders, anxiety, pain, difficulty in concentration or remembering things. Lower level of emotional intelligence has been related mostly with the symptoms of depression and anxiety, whereas, while evaluating the connections between separate competences in emotional intelligence and the intensity of expression in distress symptoms, the most significant negative links have been determined with personal emotional competence and the majority of distress symptoms: anxiety, sleep disorders, difficulty in concentration/remembering things, depression, numbness/tingling. Conclusion. Lower personal emotional competence is related to the expression of distress symptoms of higher intensity. Key words: emotional intelligence, distress, nurses. |
