The correlation between emotional intelligence and clinical competence in nurses working in special care units: A cross-sectional study

Emotional intelligence and clinical competence are essential skills of the nursing profession to elevate the quality of nursing services and patient satisfaction. This study aimed to determine the correlation between emotional intelligence and clinical competence in nurses working in critical care units of hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. A cross-sectional study with a correlational design. Special care units (SCUs) of hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. The research subjects included 200 nurses working in the Special care units SCUs of hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, selected via convenience sampling. Data were collected using three questionnaires, including a demographic information questionnaire, the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i), and Benner's Nurse Competence Scale (NCS). The questionnaires were completed from October to December 2019. Data were analyzed using SPSS-18 software at a significance level of P