The relationship between emotional intelligence and readiness for organizational change among nurses

Abstract

Organizational change is a complex process that often faces high failure rates due to challenges in managing transition issues. The role of emotional intelligence in fostering readiness for organizational change among nurses remains understudied, especially in the context of Jordan. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence and readiness for organizational change among Jordanian nurses working in governmental hospitals. A descriptive cross sectional correlational design was used. A convenient sampling method was used to enroll Jordanian nurses from different governmental hospitals, with a resulting final sample of 250 nurses. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect data. Data analysis was run using descriptive and inferential analysis. The findings revealed that the participants had moderate levels of emotional intelligence with a mean score of (M = 87.96, SD = 26.59). The participants demonstrated strengths in understanding their own emotions, perceiving others’ emotions, and setting goals. They also showed good control of their emotions and a positive self-perception. Regarding readiness for organizational change, the mean score was (M = 39.58, SD = 11.16), suggesting a moderate level of readiness. The participants exhibited commitment, motivation, and confidence in handling challenges associated with change. A strong positive relationship between emotional intelligence and readiness for change commitment (r = .942, P < .01), change efficacy (r = .935, P < .01), and total readiness for change (r = .951, P < .01) were exist. Moreover, age and years of experience were negatively correlated with readiness for change. There was a strong and significant positive relationship between emotional intelligence and readiness for change. This emphasizes the importance of developing emotional intelligence abilities among nurses to facilitate successful change processes in healthcare organizations.