Are emotional intelligence and compassion associated with nursing safety and quality care? A cross-sectional investigation in pediatric settings

Abstract

PurposeTo assess and compare the perceptions of emotional intelligence, compassion, and safety and quality care held by parents of hospitalized children and nurses, and to examine the association between emotional intelligence, compassion, and safety and quality care among nurses. Design and methodsThis cross-sectional study comprised 80 parents whose children were hospitalized for at least three days, and 71 nurses who treated these children. The data were collected during April-June 2018 using a self-administered questionnaire addressing socio-demographic characteristics, safety and quality care in the ward, emotional intelligence, and compassion. A hierarchical multiple regression model was used to assess whether emotional intelligence and compassion could be associated with safety and quality care among pediatric nurses. ResultsParents considered the safety and quality care in the ward to be significantly (p = .003) higher (M = 4.23 ± 0.61) than did nurses (M = 3.97 ± 0.46). Compassion had a significant positive effect on safety and quality of care (β = 0.260; p = .041), while seniority in nursing had a significant negative effect on safety and quality care (β = −0.289;p = .021). Null effect was found between emotional intelligence and safety and quality care. ConclusionCompassionate care should be targeted to improve the safety and quality of nursing care delivered to children and their parents. Practice implicationsNurse ward managers should promote procedures and guidelines concerning safety and quality care processes among older nurses. Specifically, we recommend nurse ward managers to leverage the results and dedicate efforts to continue to provide compassionate care in pediatric settings as an integral part of safety and quality care.