A Descriptive Study Examining the Correlation of Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Styles to Conflict Management Styles of Nursing School Administrators.

Abstract

This study aimed to identify if a correlation exists among trait emotional intelligence (EI), leadership styles, and conflict management styles used by nurse education administrators. Nursing is fraught with incivility, bullying, and increasing physical aggression. Conflict surrounds nurses at every level. EI and leadership styles in nursing have been addressed. Few studies were found that addressed conflict management by nurse education administrators. A quantitative nonexperimental correlational design using discriminant analysis was used in this study. Trait EI factors of emotionality and sociability correlated with conflict management styles. Leadership styles and conflict management styles were situational; management styles of integrating and compromising were underused in conflict situations. Nurse education administrators are in a position to become disruptive innovators in changing the nursing culture. The increased use of conflict management styles of integrating and compromising can help address incivility and bullying.