How do emotional intelligence and professional identity affect humanistic care ability? A cross-sectional study among standardised training nurses in China.

OBJECTIVES

To understand the current status of emotional intelligence, professional identity and humanistic care ability among standardised training nurses (STNs); to explore the mediating role of professional identity in the relationship between emotional intelligence and humanistic care ability; and to explore the potential mechanisms among these variables.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SETTING

A tertiary hospital in Chengdu, China.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 134 STNs were recruited through convenience sampling.

METHODS

Using convenience sampling, 134 STNs were recruited. Participants completed the Nurse Professional Identity Scale (5-point Likert), the Humanistic Care Ability Scale (7-point Likert) and the Emotional Intelligence Scale (7-point Likert) to assess their levels of professional identity, humanistic care ability and emotional intelligence. Structural equation modelling was used to test the mediation model.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Participants completed the Nurses' Professional Identity Rating Scale, the Caring Ability Inventory and the Emotional Intelligence Scale. Pearson correlation and mediation analyses were performed using the PROCESS macro for SPSS.

RESULTS

STNs demonstrated low levels of humanistic care ability, moderate levels of professional identity and low levels of the ability to assess others' emotions. Emotional intelligence had a significant positive direct effect (0.798) on humanistic care ability and professional identity partially mediated (0.109) this relationship.

CONCLUSION

Emotional intelligence directly enhances humanistic care ability, and professional identity plays a partial mediating role. Integrating emotional intelligence and professional identity training into standardised nurse education may strengthen humanistic care competencies. Targeted emotional intelligence training for STNs may enhance empathy and professional identity, thereby improving humanistic care ability and contributing to better doctor-patient relationships.