Over the past few decades, there has been an increase in interest in emotional intelligence (EI). This is characterized as the ability to identify your emotions and control them along with being able to relate to others and understand their feelings.

Many employers look for people who show emotional maturity or professionalism during times of stress. Having high levels of EI can help you deal with stressful situations more effectively. In fact, one study found that nursing professionals with higher EIs had lower rates of burnout than their less intelligent peers!1

While it may sound nice to have lots of “emotions”, this isn’t necessarily a good thing. Sometimes strong emotions are related to negative things happening in someone’s life, and they could use some space to process what is going on. More often though, people with low levels of EI seem unable to contain their emotions, which can make them annoying to be around.

This article will talk about five behaviors that demonstrate professional integrity in nurses. These include honesty, self-awareness, responsibility, empathy, and leadership. All five require individuals to know themselves well and recognize how these qualities influence other people.

You will also learn some easy ways to improve your nurse’s EQ test scores.

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Skills for emotional intelligence

First, what is emotional intelligence? Emotional intelligence (EI) is your ability to recognize, understand, and control your own emotions as well as those of others.

Some say it comes down to someone’s perception of themselves and their surroundings; we are all shaped by our experiences, so people who have lived similar lives can be more aware of how other individuals respond to certain situations.

Other experts refer to it as “self-awareness,” or understanding yourself on an internal level. When you think about it, both concepts seem related — if you aren’t sure what makes you feel angry or happy, for example, then you won’t know much about yourself.

But some believe that EI goes beyond just knowing yourself. You also need to understand why you feel the way you do, and be able to relate to others on a similarly deep level. In other words, you should be able to empathize with them.

We are all equipped with a limited amount of emotional intelligence, but most adults experience a slight decline during adulthood. This doesn’t mean you will never get another chance to use your EQ skills, however!

You can train your brain to increase its levels of EQ through research studies and strategies like mindfulness and self-compassion.

How to boost your emotional intelligence

Overcoming challenges effectively is an integral part of being a successful person. You will face many hurdles along your career path, which can range from situations with patients or colleagues to changing jobs or programs.

Running into these obstacles does not make you weak, it makes you confident and able to deal with unexpected situations. These opportunities present new challenges that push you to test yourself and strengthen your skills.

Boosting your emotional intelligence will help you overcome such challenges and maintain mental health during times of stress. You are drawn towards people who have high emotional quotients (EQs) and they enjoy engaging with others.

You will also find it easy to relate to them because you recognize some of their traits and qualities. People with higher EQs understand how emotions work for both themselves and other people, and why different individuals feel the way they do.

Ways to show your emotional intelligence

A good gauge of someone’s emotional intelligence is seeing how they respond to situations that are emotionally charged.

Nurses who have high emotional intelligence will usually take time to de-stress after work so that they can relax at home, or may choose to go out with friends for dinner instead of staying in and watching TV.

They may also be able to recognize when something isn’t working and need to make changes, and then implement those changes without becoming too overwhelmed.

Professional nurses must deal with difficult patients all the time, but some people seem to get more upset than others.

People with higher EQ understand that sometimes things don’t turn out the way you want them to and you have to move on. They learn from experience and are not easily shocked or offended.

When these qualities are demonstrated by another person, it can motivate you to do the same thing and put yourself in better positions to succeed.

Emotional awareness

A large part of professional nursing is understanding how different people feel about you, what emotions they may be experiencing, and being able to relate to them. This is important because most nurses are self-aware, but not many are aware of their own feelings.

Many times we put up barriers to keep ourselves from feeling certain things. For example, when our co-workers get a little praise, we don’t let ourselves enjoy that moment as much because we think it will make us look bad.

We also avoid putting yourself out there by presenting your best side and then hiding something crucial about yourself. When someone talks about an event that happened months ago, you find yourself doing math to figure out if this person is going to say something negative about you or not.

This sort of mental preparation can sometimes prevent you from knowing what to do once the conversation happens. If you're ever having such a discussion, try to remember that everyone's situation is different and apply that same rule to yourself.

Never assume anything about another person unless you have solid proof, and always believe the worst until there is evidence to the contrary. These tips will help you become more emotionally intelligent.