The emotional labour of nursing -- Defining and managing emotions in nursing work

Emotions in health organisations tend to remain tacit and in need of clarification. Often, emotions are made invisible in nursing and reduced to part and parcel of 'women's work' in the domestic sphere. Smith (1992) applied the notion of emotional labour to the study of student nursing, concluding that further research was required. This means investigating what is often seen as a tacit and uncodified skill. A follow-up qualitative study was conducted over a period of twelve months to re-examine the role of the emotional labour of nursing. Data were collected primarily from 16 in-depth and semi-structured interviews with nurses. Key themes elicited at interviews touch upon diverse topics in the emotional labour of nursing. In particular, this article will address nurse definitions of emotional labour; the routine aspects of emotional labour in nursing; traditional and modern images of nursing; and gender and professional barriers that involve emotional labour in health work. This is important in improving nurse training and best practice; investigating clinical settings of nurses' emotional labour; looking at changing techniques of patient consultation; and beginning to explore the potential therapeutic value of emotional labour.     

The nursing relationship--psychodynamic aspects

The relationship between nurses and their patients is influenced by subtle and often unconscious emotions which influence proper nursing. In this paper psychological concepts of development from psychoanalysis, baby-watching and attachment theory are enlisted to understand more deeply emotional situations in nursing relationships. After considering anthropological basics of nursing relations with the elderly and the mutual dependency of nursing and nursed persons are discussed. The limits of comparison between early childhood nursing and professional nursing relationships are mentioned at the end.     

Perinatal grief and emotional labour: a study of nurses' experiences in gynae wards

Death through pregnancy loss is a tragedy which touches nursing staff as well as parents. Exposed to the intense emotions of parents, nurses must simultaneously manage their own emotions. This paper explores how nurses, through the use of personal narratives, develop and construct meanings around the professionally defined, but personally experienced, event of pregnancy loss. The methodology was based on in-depth interviews with fourteen nurses working in gynaecological units in Northern Ireland. The author, through the exploration of the nurse's perspective, concludes that emotion can be conceived of as a valid resource for professionals when integrated into a nurse's matrix of professional understandings. In addition, the study also demonstrates that value should be attached to emotional work which may not be fully visible, particularly for nurses working in gynaecological units. The emotional needs of nurses need to be fully acknowledged through recognition of the importance of managed emotion in the construction of professional knowledge. There is, therefore, strong justification for supporting the recognition of the importance of emotion in the development of nurse education policies and in valuing aspects of nursing practice that may have been marginalized.     

Identifying emotional intelligence in professional nursing practice.

The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projects that the shortage of registered nurses in the United States will double by 2010 and will nearly quadruple to 20% by 2015 (Bureau of Health Professionals Health Resources and Services Administration. [2002]. Projected supply, demand, and shortages of registered nurses, 2000-2020 [On-line]. Available: http:bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/reports/rnprojects/report.htm). The purpose of this study was to use the conceptual framework of emotional intelligence to analyze nurses' stories about their practice to identify factors that could be related to improved nurse retention and patient/client outcomes. The stories reflected evidence of the competencies and domains of emotional intelligence and were related to nurse retention and improved outcomes. Nurses recognized their own strengths and limitations, displayed empathy and recognized client needs, nurtured relationships, used personal influence, and acted as change agents. Nurses were frustrated when organizational barriers conflicted with their knowledge/intuition about nursing practice, their communications were disregarded, or their attempts to create a shared vision and teamwork were ignored. Elements of professional nursing practice, such as autonomy, nurse satisfaction, respect, and the professional practice environment, were identified in the excerpts of the stories. The shortage of practicing nurses continues to be a national issue. The use of emotional intelligence concepts may provide fresh insights into ways to keep nurses engaged in practice and to improve nurse retention and patient/client outcomes.     

The emotional experience of caregivers to relatives who are chronically confused—Implications for community mental health nursing

This paper examines the emotional experience of informal caregivers to family members who are chronically confused. Six informal caregivers were taken from the caseloads of community mental health nurses working with elderly people. Data were collected by means of a daily diary and in-depth interviews relating to their emotional experience as caregivers. The data are presented in the form of six vignettes and the implications for theory, practice and research in community mental health nursing are examined.     

肿瘤科护士的情绪体验及其影响因素的研究

目的探讨肿瘤科护士在护理患者过程中的内心感受及产生原因。方法采用定性研究方法,对16名三级甲等医院肿瘤科护士进行半结构式的开放性访谈,运用定性资料的内容分析法进行资料分析。结果在情绪方面,有些护士表现出轻松、稳定、平静等正性情绪,有些护士表现出难受、伤感、无奈、郁闷、委屈、害怕等负性情绪;在对患者的态度方面,有些护士采取尊重、敬佩、同情、换位、理解的态度;有些护士则表现为情感淡漠;护士缓解负性情绪的方式有:角色转换、转移注意力和倾诉。结论综合医院肿瘤科护士在工作中的情绪复杂多样,护理管理者需针对其产生的原因,采取积极有效的措施,避免或减少护士负性情绪,保证临床护理工作质量。     

The moderating role of age and seniority on nurses' emotional dissonance and perceived health

This study aims to investigate the weight of surface acting (a condition in which subjects must display an emotional state that does not correspond to their real feelings) in the relationship between the emotional load of nursing work and the perception of health, and to evaluate the moderating effect of age and length of service. A moderated mediation analysis was conducted on a sample of 359 Italian nurses. The results confirmed the mediation role of surface acting and showed that both age and seniority have moderating effects so that in conditions of high emotional load, older and more experienced nurses show higher levels of surface acting, and in conditions of high surface acting, younger and less experienced nurses show lower levels of perceived health. In conclusion, surface acting seems a stressor for younger nurses, not yet used to the weight of faking emotions, while the perceived emotional load seems a stressor for older and more experienced nurses. Each result highlights the importance of providing emotional regulation skills training and support to reduce the psychological impact of emotional demands on nurses.     

Frontstage nursing and backstage growth: The emotional labour of student nurses in Dutch nursing homes

The complex emotional work of nurses calls for more recognition of emotional labour and the incorporation of emotional labour in nursing education. Based on participant observation and semistructured interviews, we describe the experiences of student nurses in two nursing homes for elderly people with dementia in the Netherlands. We analyse their interactions using Goffman's dramaturgical view on the front and backstage behaviour and the distinction between surface acting and deep acting. The study reveals the complexity of emotional labour, as nurses swiftly adapt their communication styles and behavioural strategies between settings, patients, and even between moments within one interaction sequence, which shows that the theoretical binaries fail to fully capture their skills. Although student nurses take pride in their emotionally taxing work, the societal undervaluation of the nursing profession negatively impacts their self-image and ambitions. More explicit recognition of these complexities would enhance their self-appreciation. This calls for a professional ‘backstage area’ that allows nurses to articulate and strengthen their emotional labour skills. Educational institutions should provide this backstage for nurses-in-training to strengthen these skills as part of the professional skill set.     

Relationship between self‐compassion and emotional intelligence in nursing students

Nursing focuses on meeting physical, social and emotional health‐care needs of individuals, families and society. In health care, nurses directly communicate with patients and try to empathize with them. Nurses give care under emotionally intense conditions where the individual undergoes pain and distress. Research is aimed at analysing the correlation of self‐compassion and emotional intelligence of nursing students. The population of the research consisted of all the undergraduate students (571 students) of the 2010–2011 fall semester of the department of nursing. An information form, Self‐compassion Scale and Emotional Intelligence Assessment Scale were utilized to obtain data for the research. For the assessment of the findings of research, Statistical Package for Social Sciences 16.0 for Windows was utilized for statistical analysis. Results indicated that there is a correlation between self‐compassion and emotional intelligence and that emotional intelligence, which includes the individual perceiving one's emotions and using the knowledge one gained from them to function while directing thoughts, actions and professional applications, has positive contributions to the features of nurses with developed self‐compassion.     

情绪晴雨表在老年干部病房整体护理工作中的应用

目的探讨情绪晴雨表在老年干部病房整体护理工作中的应用。方法设计制作情绪晴雨表,包含患者床号、性格颜色、当日情绪、不良情绪原因分析和沟通策略栏。对护士进行相关培训,提高责任护士对老年患者情绪变化的关注及掌握正确护理干预策略的能力。结果应用情绪晴雨表提高了患者对护理服务的满意度;护士认为情绪晴雨表使用简便、易操作;提高了护士对患者不良情绪和沟通策略的知晓率。结论应用情绪晴雨表利于记忆、交接患者情绪状态及沟通策略,能够有效引导和帮助护士开展整体护理工作。     

A literature review of emotional intelligence and nursing education

AimThe purpose of this study is to investigate the current state of knowledge about emotional intelligence (EI) in nursing educationBackgroundHuman relationships and emotions are an integral part of nursing care and contribute to care quality. This part of the profession must be addressed in nursing education to prepare students and deal with their emotions and the patients’s. Research on emotional intelligence (EI) in nursing has been particularly developed recently. A broad understanding of many benefits of EI is crucial to include EI in this training program.DesignSystematic literature reviewMethodsUndertaken using electronic database (Cairn; PubMed; Science Direct; Wiley online library) and specific search terms. This research covered articles published in English and French between 2007 and 2021. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines (PRISMA) directed the systematic review process.Results57 articles are included in this systematic review. The literature focuses on EI and nursing education. The findings categorized into four themes: EI and performances; EI and Physical and mental health; EI and Social Relationship; and EI program.ConclusionsThis literature review reveals that EI has many benefits in nursing students. Several training programs aimed at developing this concept have proven to be effective in nursing education. We believe that a synthesis of this knowledge will then allow us to better understand the benefits of EI for a further implementation in nursing education. Perspectives and recommendations will also be formulated to enable the implementation of emotional skill development programs in such training.     

护理人员情绪管理的研究进展

护理人员作为健康照顾者、合作者、计划者、管理者、研究者、教育者和宣传者,是医疗健康工作中的主力军,其身心健康影响着护理质量。然而护理人员面对着繁忙的工作和复杂的人际关系,拥有稳定的情绪对于提升护理质量、构建和谐护患关系有着重要的意义。本文对情绪管理相关概念、评估工具、干预方法及影响因素进行了介绍,旨在为进一步开展护理人员情绪管理的相关研究、提升护理人员情绪管理水平提供理论依据。     

Exploring the relationship between perceived emotional intelligence, coping, social support and mental health in nursing students

Studies conducted with nurses or nursing students have shown that emotional intelligence is a skill that minimizes the negative stress consequences. The present work examines the role of perceived emotional intelligence (PEI) measured by the Trait Meta-Mood Scale, in the use of stress-coping strategies, in the quantity and quality of social support and in the mental health of nursing students. The results indicated positive correlations between clarity and social support, social support and repair, and social support and mental health. Hierarchy regression analysis pointed out that clarity and emotional repair are predictors of social support, and emotional repair is the main predictor of mental health. These results show the importance of PEI in stress coping within the nursing framework.     

护理学生情绪管理能力研究进展

情绪管理是一种在觉察自己和他人的情绪后,理解和运用自己的情绪,以某种方法进行情绪调控,最后表现出适合当情绪的过程。良好的情绪管理能力有助于减轻护理学生学业压力,同时缓解其进入临床角色的不适应心理,降低离职率。本文通过对情绪管理的概念、理论、工具及护理学生情绪管理能力现状进行综述,旨在为提高护理学生情绪管理能力提供理论依据。     

Exploring leadership capability and emotional intelligence as moderators of workplace bullying

Aim This study aimed to explore the potential for emotionally intelligent leadership as a way to mitigate bullying behaviour within nursing workplace environments. Background As the body of evidence about bullying continues to grow there is an increasing need for researchers to direct their attention to developing theoretical frameworks that explain how bullying and victimization occur, and the types of strategies that may address the problem. Evaluation The narrative synthesis of the literature presented in this paper is forwarded as supporting the need for strengthening leadership capability, especially those capabilities associated with emotional intelligence, as a means of diminishing experienced bullying within nursing. Key issues Stemming from our expanding understandings about bullying is an appreciation of the range of factors within organizations that influence the occurrence of bullying, and an awareness of the need to understand the expression, experience and management of emotions in the workplace. Conclusions While both leadership and emotional intelligence capabilities offer real potential to mitigate bullying behaviour, disparity exits between clinical and managerial nurses toward preferred leadership styles and emotional intelligence is open to challenges towards its content validity. Implications for nursing management Nursing management is challenged to build upon procedural responses to bullying to include a ground up approach to leadership enhancement capability, better responses to emotions in the workplace and supporting the interpersonal and intrapersonal capabilities of the nursing workforce.     

Community mental health nurses speak out: the critical relationship between emotional wellbeing and satisfying professional practice

The article reports on selected findings of a research study concerning emotional wellbeing and professional nursing practice (Rose 2002). It highlights the relationship between community mental health nurses' and emotional wellbeing, and their capacity to provide satisfying professional nursing practice (Rose 2002). The notion of emotional wellbeing, factors that impacted upon the participants' emotional wellbeing, and the relationship of emotional wellbeing to professional practice were revealed in the study. These findings were based on a qualitative critical feminist research inquiry and specifically, interviews with five women community mental health nurses in Australia. Whilst complex, emotional wellbeing was found to be both implicitly and explicitly linked to the participants intertwined personal and professional experiences. Four key components were identified: the nebulous notion; the stress relationship; the mind, body, spirit connection; and, inner sense of balance. In terms of emotional wellbeing and professional practice, three themes were revealed. These were: being able to speak out (or not); being autonomous (or not) and being satisfied (or not). The authors argue that the emotional wellbeing of nurses working in community mental health settings is critical to satisfying professional practice. Furthermore nursing work involves emotional work which impacts on one's emotional wellbeing and emotional wellbeing is integrally linked to professional practice. It is recommended that health organisations must be pro-active in addressing the emotional needs of nurses to ensure the delivery of health care that is aligned to professional practice. This approach will ensure nurses will feel more recognised and validated in terms of their nursing practice.     

How do nurses deal with their emotions on a burn unit? Hermeneutic inquiry

Burn unit nurses work in an emotionally exhausting environment and are frequently exposed to emotional trauma. Emotion is a difficult concept to define. This study used a hermeneutic-phenomenological approach to establish the experiences of nurses working on a burn unit to find out how they deal with their emotions. The findings suggest that nurses have little or no time to deal with their emotional experiences. This study has shown that current support services might be ineffective. Nurses realize that they have emotions. They also recognize the need to address these emotions. Recommendations for nursing practice are made as a result of these findings.     

Supportive nursing: a critical review of the literature.

Nurses have long thought that providing support was a part, if not a central part, of their nursing practice. In the literature, nurses have described their ability to provide support and have discussed their inability as well as their reasons why they have been unable to give support. Support for nurses has at least three parameters: physical, social, and emotional. The emotional parameter has received the most attention by nurses. The meaning of support in nursing needs to be clearer and more precise. Although several nurses, either through theoretical discussions or exploratory research studies, have begun to further define support, this construct warrants more thought and investigation by nurses. Once an operational definition is determined and supportive behaviors identified, nurses can further investigate the influence of support to the promotion of health.     

探讨情绪管理在临床孕期护理管理工作中的应用和效果

目的:探讨临床孕期护理管理工作中引入情绪管理护理手段后,对护理人员在问题解决能力和负面情绪发生情况方面的影响。方法:将2018年4月至2019年4月笔者所在医院妇产科80例护理人员作为本次研究对象,随机分为对照组和观察组,每组护理人员各40例。对照组护理人员采取常规护理模式,观察组护理人员在对照组护理人员基础上对其积极培训情绪管理措施。将两组护理人员护理工作中问题解决能力和护理人员心理情况进行比较。结果:两组护理人员在分组培训后,观察组护理人员解决问题能力评分为(7.85±2.44)分,寻求帮助方面评分为(6.54±2.88)分,合理化方面评分为(6.88±1.66)分,明显高于对照组的(5.87±2.34)分、(4.34±2.48)分、(4.78±1.35)分(t=3.7041、3.6610、6.2074,P<0.05),差异有统计学意义。此外观察组退避心理评分为(3.28±1.62)分,自责感评分为(4.66±1.85)分,幻想出现频率水平为(4.66±1.75)分,明显低于对照组的(6.68±1.63)分、(7.67±1.75)分、(6.56±1.85)分(t=9.3570、7.4755、4.7188,P<0.05),差异有统计学意义。结论:临床孕期护理管理工作中引入情绪管理措施可将妇产科护理人员解决问题的能力提高,并有效降低护理人员负面情绪出现频率,对良好护患关系的建立,提高护理工作质量有帮助。