Investigation of the relationship between emotional intelligence and moral sensitivity levels of nurses

Aim: The research was conducted in a descriptive, correlational type in order to examine the relationship between nurses' emotional intelligence and moral sensitivity levels. Material and method: The study sample consisted of 200 nurses working in Adıyaman Training and Research Hospital and Adıyaman Gynecology and Pediatrics Hospital located in Adıyaman city center. The data were collected between February and March 2022 using the 'Descriptive Information Form', the 'Revised Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale' and the 'Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire'. Non-parametric tests and Spearman's Correlation Coefficient were used to evaluate the data. In the study, the statistical significance level was accepted as p<0.05. Results: The total mean score of the Revised Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale of the nurses participating in the study was 123.92±12.56, and the total mean score of the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire was 76.90±14.85. In the study, statistically significant differences were determined according to marital status in the optimism/mood regulation sub-dimension of the Revised Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale, according to the voluntary choice of the nursing profession in the utilizations of emotions sub-dimension, and according to the satisfaction with the nursing profession in the utilizations of emotions sub-dimension and total score (p<0.05). It was determined that there were significant differences were found in the moral sensitivity questionnaire total and autonomy sub-dimension mean scores according to education level, in the conflict sub-dimension mean scores according to marital status, and in the orientation sub-dimension mean scores according to years of professional experience (p<0.05). A low level of positive correlation was found between the appraisal of emotions sub-dimension of the Revised Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale and the holistic approach sub-dimension of the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire of the nurses participating in the study (r=0.152; p=0.032). A low level of negative correlation was found between the appraisal of emotions sub-dimension of the Revised Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale and the conflict sub-dimension of the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire (r=-0.198; p=0.005). Conclusion: In line with the study results, it is recommended that the trainings to improve the emotional intelligence and moral sensitivity levels of nurses should be planned by the institution, the emotional intelligence of the nurses should be evaluated and the nurses should be employed in the appropriate unit, and the concepts of emotional intelligence and moral sensitivity should be re-examined in larger sample groups.