Jan Shoultz

Measuring the emotional intelligence of clinical staff nurses: an approach for improving the clinical care environment.

BackgroundSignificant correlations have been demonstrated between emotional intelligence (EI) and high levels of performance and other organizational variables related to retention and workplace environment. Although these variables are also important for safe care and healthy work relationships, there is little research on the EI of clinical staff nurses. The purpose of this study was to measure EI as related to performance level of clinical staff nurses, and to collect data on important related career/organizational variables. MethodsThirty-six nurses in 3 urban hospitals in Honolulu, Hawaii, participated. EI, nursing performance level, and career/organizational variables were measured. DiscussionSignificant positive correlations between clinical performance level and EI scores were observed. However, a large percentage of the clinical staff demonstrated below average total EI scores and subscores (perceiving emotions, experiencing emotions). ConclusionsFindings from this study offer the first evidence that the performance level of clinical staff nurses correlates positively with EI. A high percentage of nurses in this study scored below average on both total EI score and important subscores. These findings warrant further investigation. EI may offer a framework and specific skills to enhance collaboration, positive conflict behaviors, and healthy relationships in the clinical care environment.

Finding solutions to challenges faced in community-based participatory research between academic and community organizations.

Summary Partnerships between communities and academic institutions have been vital in addressing complex health and psychosocial issues faced by culturally diverse and hard-to-reach populations. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) has been suggested as a strategy to develop trust and build on the strengths of partners from various settings to address significant health issues, particularly those persistent health issues that reveal disparities among minority populations. There have been many challenges to developing these partnerships in the United States. The purpose of this paper is to discuss approaches and solutions used by this research team in response to the challenges they have faced in using CBPR. The team uses CBPR to understand and support the process of disclosure of intimate partner violence (IPV) within the context of the community health centers that provide services for multicultural and multi-lingual populations. While CBPR provides a route to develop trust and build on the strengths of partners from various settings, there are multiple challenges that arise when partnering organizations present with different infrastructures, missions, resources and populations served. Examples of common challenges and solutions from the literature and from the teams experience will be discussed. Implications for partners, partnerships, practice and research will be explored.

Emotional Intelligence, Performance, and Retention in Clinical Staff Nurses

BackgroundEmotional intelligence has been correlated with performance, retention, and organizational commitment in professions other than nursing. A 2006 pilot study provided the first evidence of a correlation between emotional intelligence and performance in clinical staff nurses. A follow-up study was completed, the purpose of which was to explore emotional intelligence, performance level, organizational commitment, and retention. MethodsA convenience sample of 350 nurses in a large medical center in urban Hawaii participated in this study. This article reports the findings pertaining to the subset of 193 clinical staff nurses who responded. The Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test instrument was used to measure emotional intelligence abilities. Performance was defined as ranking on a clinical ladder. Commitment was scored on a Likert scale. The following variables measured retention: total years in nursing, years in current job, total years anticipated in current job, and total anticipated career length. ConclusionsEmotional intelligence scores in clinical staff nurses correlated positively with both performance level and retention variables. Clinical staff nurses with higher emotional intelligence scores demonstrated higher performance, had longer careers, and greater job retention.

Community Partnerships: Redirecting the Education of Undergraduate Nursing Students

Consistent with the goal of reforming nursing education to support nursings agenda for health care reform, a community-based, multiprofessional initiative supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation began in Hawaii in 1991. This initiative created a partnership among the University of Hawaii Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Social Work, and Public Health, three community health centers, and their communities to provide a community-based, integrated system of health care, education, and research. In response to this initiative, the School of Nursing developed an integrated undergraduate curriculum consisting of: a discipline-specific tutorial using an inquiry-based learning strategy; a multiprofessional tutorial; and a 1-year clinical experience providing culturally competent primary care. Community-based education has stimulated changes in the philosophy, mission, and curriculum of the School of Nursing. The outcomes achieved as a result of this initiative have had a favorable impact on clients using the community health centers, the communities, the School of Nursing, and the students.

Listening to women: culturally tailoring the violence prevention guidelines from the put prevention into practice program.

Purpose To develop five reliable and valid (culturally tailored) guidelines focused on the prevention of violence as presented in the violence prevention guideline of the Put Prevention into Practice Clinicians Handbook on Preventative Services (PPIP). Data Sources The data collection for this qualitative, descriptive design of naturalistic inquiry was focus group interviews with five different ethnic groups of women (Caucasian, Filipino, Hawaiian, Japanese and Hispanic) using a semi‐structured interview guide. Conclusions The women interviewed provided a variety of suggestions for adaptations to the guideline. Cultural similarities and differences are presented. Development of a nonjudgmental and trusting relationship is key to disclosure. Implications for Practice Violence against women is recognized as a major public health problem. Little is known about the effectiveness of standardized interventions such as those contained in the PPIP Handbook. Even less is known about the efficacy of such protocols within culturally diverse populations. Providers should consider adaptation of the guideline based on the individual relationship with the client. The next phase of this research is to implement the culturally tailored adaptations of these guidelines and test their effectiveness.

Reducing health disparities by improving quality of care: lessons learned from culturally diverse women.

Disparities in healthcare for culturally diverse populations in the United States lead to poorer health outcomes. This article focuses on decreasing health disparities by improving the quality of care for culturally diverse women. Findings from 3 pilot studies are organized using Fongwas Quality of Care Model, which demonstrate specific modifications suggested by culturally diverse women that can potentially improve healthcare services for these women.