Problem: The nursing literature has suggested that the lack of Emotional Intelligence (EI) among nurse leaders has been one of the major contributing factors for nurse dissatisfaction leading to higher rates of nurse turnover and a decline in the rate of nurse retention. Many researchers have also argued that the lack of EI competencies among nurses reduced the art of nursing science to the role of a technician, which has compromised the quality of care, the healthcare outcomes and increased cost. Therefore; the concept of EI has become one of the most essential factors in the success equation necessary for transformational leadership in patient safety and workforce issues as nurse leaders can no longer use outmoded ways to lead organizations. Although some educators and practitioners embraced the construct, yet the nursing research base on the constuct continues to be scarce and requires further investigation in various areas in nursing. Purpose and Scope: The purpose of this capstone project was to measure the level of EI among advanced practice nurses as healthcare leaders’ pre, post and six weeks after an educational intervention on EI. the rationale for the project was to predict the need for more education and training on EI among advanced practice nurses. Goal: The goal was to help enhance and improve the advanced practice nurses’ emotional awareness of self and others by stimulating their personal insight, and direct them towards modification of behavior rather than personality. Objectives: First, describe demographic characteristics of the participants. Second, describe the pre-intervention level of EI among nurse practitioners. Third, describe the post intervention of EI among nurse practitioners. Plan: Phase One: Conduct a needs assessment using published an evidence-based critique template. Phase Two: Design a PowerPoint teaching intervention using an evidence-based approach. Phase Three: Implement an evidence based teaching intervention for a projected sample of (N=50). Phase Four: Evaluate the level of EI before and after a teaching intervention on EI six weeks after the teaching intervention on EI using the Emotional Intelligence compentency Inventory survey. Outcomes and Results: Using descriptive-interventional reseach design, the pre-intervention and post-intervention scores measured the mean increase in the level of EI among advanced practice nurses. Consistency for the pre-intervention teaching achieved significance of 0.864, while the post test achieved significance of 0.864 with regard to the tool performance in this interventional design. Findings revealed a signficant relationship between knowledge and practice change at follow up. Males were found to have higher self assessment and self management skills than female participants.
