Emotional Intelligence and Contextual Performance among Nursing Professionals in Jos metropolis, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

One of the factors that affect contextual performance in the modern business environment is emotional intelligence. The linkage between emotional intelligent and contextual performance in organizations in Nigeria (especially the health sector) is yet to be fully studied. This study examined the impact of Emotional Intelligence components on the contextual performance of nursing professionals in Jos metropolis. The study employed survey research design and relied on primary data. Schutte’s Self Emotional Intelligence Scale (SEIS) and Koopman’s Individual Work Performance Scale (IWPS) was employed in the data collection from a sample of 300 nursing professionals using Bartlett, Kotrlik & Higgins (2001) sample size table. Pooled Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) multiple regression technique of data analysis was employed and the study found that emotional social-awareness, emotional selfawareness, and emotional management have an insignificant positive impact on the contextual working performance of nursing professionals in Jos metropolis. While emotional self-management, emotional empathy, emotional social-skills, and emotional awareness have significant statistical positive impact on the contextual working performance of nursing professionals in Jos metropolis at 99% confidence level. The study concludes that trait based model of emotional intelligent is applicable to nursing practice and nursing practice requires empathetic skills as trigger for contextual performance. The study also concludes that emotional intelligent competencies are significantly important in nursing practice and have positive significant relationships with contextual performance, especially with particular regard to empathy, self-management, social-skills and awareness. The study recommends that the management and policy-makers in the service industry (especially Nursing profession) should adopt the trait-based components of emotional intelligent examined in this study so as to enhance contextual performance of their staff. It is also recommended that management should include emotional intelligence competencies in testing prospective employees.