Emotional Intelligence and Job Satisfaction Among Staff Nurses: A Descriptive Survey

Emotional intelligence and job satisfaction have become increasingly important in today's workplace, offering significant benefits in personal and professional development. However, there is limited research available on these topics within the Indian healthcare context, especially regarding nurses. Specifically, this paper seeks to assess nurses' emotional intelligence levels, evaluate their job satisfaction, and determine how emotional intelligence influences workplace satisfaction. Emotional intelligence is essential for nurses in managing stress, fostering effective patient interactions, and maintaining a positive work environment. Likewise, job satisfaction impacts motivation, retention, and overall performance. By exploring these factors, the study aims to provide insights into their interconnectedness and contribute to strategies that enhance nurse well-being and improve healthcare service quality.

A descriptive research design with a quantitative approach was employed in this study. Using a simple random sampling technique, 100 staff nurses were selected as participants. To assess emotional intelligence and job satisfaction, the study utilized the Emotional Intelligence Inventory Scale and the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire. The researcher administered the questionnaire to the staff nurses, allowing them 15-20 minutes to complete the questions. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics to summarize the findings and identify relationships between emotional intelligence and job satisfaction. This approach provided a comprehensive understanding of the nurses' emotional intelligence and job satisfaction levels.

Among 100 staff nurses, the majority (58%; n=58) were aged 20-30 years, were female (70%; n=70), were married (64%; n=64%), and had 1-10 years of hospital experience (68%; n=68). Most (60%; n=60) earned a monthly salary of Rs. 10,000-20,000, and (52%; n=52) had GNM qualifications. A majority of 79 (79%) worked as staff nurses, with 47 (47%) in general wards. Emotional intelligence levels were very high among 77 (77%) nurses, while 63 (63%) were highly satisfied with their jobs. The mean emotional intelligence score was 191.59 (S.D. 18.0264), and the mean job satisfaction score was 75.14 (S.D. 11.9974). A significant positive correlation (r = 0.4059, p = 0.000002) was observed between emotional intelligence and job satisfaction.

The findings suggest that nurses with higher emotional intelligence tend to experience greater job satisfaction. This highlights the critical role emotional intelligence plays in influencing job satisfaction levels. By promoting emotional intelligence in nursing practice, hospital management can create a more positive work environment, which may lead to improved nurse satisfaction, better patient care, and reduced turnover rates. The results emphasize the importance of investing in emotional intelligence development as a key strategy for enhancing nurse well-being and overall hospital performance.