Emotional Intelligence: Soft Skills Training Curriculum, an Educational Training for Healthcare Students for Increased Success during Clinical Rotations

Abstract

Emotional intelligence (EI), or soft skills, is a set of skills including professionalism, effective communication skills, organizational skills, and responsivity to feedback. Research indicates that healthcare students entering their clinical rotations may lack these sets of skills The lack of soft skills during clinical experience can strain the student’s professional relationship with their clinical educators/instructors (supervisors) and may result in failure After a review of relevant literature, the purpose of this research project is to augment the evidence-based, soft skills training curriculum being developed at SUNY Downstate Medical Center Occupational Therapy Master’s Program through the production of three educational videos that incorporate the perspectives of clinical educators, alumni, and current students. The goal of the project is to increase students’ knowledge of emotional intelligence and inspire self-awareness and reflection on their own professionalism. The curriculum would ideally function to increase students’ success during clinical rotations and develop more competent clinicians. The curriculum was piloted with second year occupational therapy students prior to their clinical rotations. The curriculum educated students on soft skills and promoted reflection on their own professionalism. The curriculum findings demonstrated significant outcomes with students reporting the use of emotional intelligence skills during clinical rotations to be valuable. The findings of this study indicate that the need for emotional intelligence training may also be applicable and valuable to students in various healthcare programs.