Emotional Intelligence and Nurses‟ Job Performance at The Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana

Abstract

ABSTRACT The general objective of the study was to examine the emotional intelligence and performance of nurses at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. The study was guided by four objectives and four hypothesis that assessed how emotional intelligence‟s dimensions of self-awareness, social awareness, self management and relationship management affected performance. Mayer and Salovey‟s (1990) ability theory and Goleman‟s (1996) Mixed Competency theory underpinned the theoretical basis for the study, allowing for the review of concepts and empirical literature on emotional intelligence and job performance. An explanatory research design was adopted in the study. The study sampled 267 out of 799 nurses from the hospital using a purposive sampling technique after applying the Yamane sample determination formula. Structured Questionnaires were used as an instrument for data collection. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the demographics data collected. However, the research hypotheses were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that nurses‟ self-awareness and relationship management positively influence their job performance. However, their social awareness and self management skills do not significantly affect their performance. The study, therefore, concluded that self-awareness and relationship management are the two significant predictors of nurses‟ job performance at the CCTH. It was suggested that the Management of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital must consider implementing training and development programs aimed at raising the emotional intelligence of nurses within the facility