title: Emotional intelligence: enhancing values-based practice and compassionate care in nursing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article reports on a study which examined the predictive relationship between emotional intelligence and the following programme outcomes for student nurses: clinical practice performance; academic performance and retention.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  In the context of concerns about a lack of compassionate care and amid calls for values-based selection procedures, emotional intelligence is emerging as a potential factor which might help the nursing profession to address some of these concerns.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study employed a longitudinal survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Student nurse applicants (n = 307) were asked to complete self-report scales to establish a total score and four subscores for emotional intelligence and these scores were matched to individual student's performance on the undergraduate programme. The scales were completed between June-September 2007 and performance data were collected up until January 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant predictive relationship was found between emotional intelligence and all three programme outcomes: practice performance; academic performance and retention, after controlling for prior academic achievement, age and gender. There was a zero Pearson correlation between prior academic attainment and overall emotional intelligence, indicating that both predict different outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recruitment and selection procedures should consider emotional intelligence as a legitimate additional entrance criterion for student nurses and further research is required to examine the potential relationship between emotional intelligence and compassionate care.
authors.affiliation: School Of Nursing, University of Dundee, UK.
authors.forename: Bob
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rankin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: clinical practice; compassionate care; emotional intelligence; nursing students; values-based selection and recruitment