Emotion at the end: Identifying core emotional intelligence competencies in palliative care for the elderly.

Abstract

In the emotionally complex context of palliative care for the elderly, emotional intelligence (EI) is vital for nurses providing compassionate end-of-life care. While the importance of EI in healthcare is acknowledged, there is a need for validated frameworks specifying the core competencies essential for this specialized field. This study aimed to identify and validate the core emotional intelligence competencies required by palliative care nurses caring for elderly patients, using the Fuzzy Delphi Method to achieve expert consensus. Seven experts, including palliative care coordinators, senior nurses, and hospice specialists, participated. Drawing from existing literature, five core EI competencies were presented for validation: Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Motivation, Empathy, and Social Skills. The study successfully validated these five competencies, with Empathy (ranked 1st), Self-Regulation (ranked 2nd), and Self-Awareness (ranked 3rd) identified as the most essential qualities by the experts. These findings underscore EI's crucial role in enhancing care quality, supporting nurse well-being, and improving patient outcomes in palliative care environments. The study provides a validated EI competency framework to inform nursing education, professional development, and clinical practice. Future research should explore the practical application and impact of these competencies in diverse clinical settings and on nurse and patient outcomes.