Mediating role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between dual work stress and reflective ability among junior nurses.

Background: Junior nurses constitute the backbone of the nursing workforce, and their reflective ability is essential for clinical decision-making, as well as for driving innovation and improvement in nursing practices. Although numerous studies emphasize the importance of enhancing reflective ability in junior nurses, the specific relationships among emotional intelligence, dual work stress, and reflective ability remain unclear.

Objective: To explore the mediating effect of emotional intelligence on the relationship between dual work stress and reflective ability among junior nurses, with the aim of providing evidence-based guidance for nursing managers to improve reflective ability in clinical settings.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2023 and January 2024, involving 308 junior nurses from three tertiary hospitals in Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Challenge-Hindrance Stressor Scale, the Emotional Intelligence Scale, and the Reflective Ability Scale.

Results: Challenge stress among junior nurses was 18.00 (13.00, 23.00), hindrance stress was 17.00 (12.00, 21.00), emotional intelligence was 54.00 (40.00, 67.00), and reflective ability was 59.00 (46.00, 71.00). Challenge stress showed positive correlations with emotional intelligence and reflective ability (r = 0.382 and 0.379, respectively, P < 0.01), while hindrance stress showed negative correlations with both (r = - 0.279 and - 0.381, P < 0.01). Emotional intelligence was also positively correlated with reflective ability (r = 0.378, P < 0.01). In addition, emotional intelligence partially mediated the effects of both challenge stress and hindrance stress on reflective ability, with mediation values of 0.095 and - 0.048, accounting for 32.0% and 16.7% of the total effect, respectively.

Conclusion: Junior nurses demonstrated a moderate level of reflective ability and a moderately low level of emotional intelligence. Both hindrance stress and challenge stress were reported at moderate levels. These findings underscore the importance for nursing managers to acknowledge the impact of dual work stress and emotional intelligence on reflective ability. It is recommended to establish and implement effective stress management strategies with a focus on enhancing emotional intelligence among junior nurses. Such initiatives may improve reflective ability, thereby contributing to higher nursing quality and promoting professional development in the field.

Clinical trial number: Not applicable.