Is emotional competence a viable component in today's work environment?

This descriptive study explores the concept of emotional competence in practicing registered nurses. Registered nurses were asked to identify interactions of emotional competence that they experienced on the nursing unit. Content analysis revealed deficits in emotional competence in the following themes: self-awareness, mood management, self-motivation, empathy, and managing relationships. Results identified emotionally competent behaviors as being desirable and vital to building strong teams and interdisciplinary networks.