Self-leadership and emotional intelligence in nurse managers

Background: Nurse managers face significant stress and responsibility, impacting both their well-being and leadership effectiveness. Research suggests that strong self-leadership (SL) and emotional intelligence (EI) skills contribute to resilience, effective decision-making, and healthier work environments. Purpose: The study aims were to identify the SL and EI levels of nurse managers and explore the relationship between SL and EI. Methods: The study had a descriptive, correlational cross-sectional design. A one-time survey of nurse managers was conducted using the Revised Self-Leadership Questionnaire (RSLQ) and Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue) – Short Form. Results: Nurse managers reported moderate levels of SL (mean = 3.71; SD = 0.45) and EI (mean = 5.59; SD = 0.50). The Pearson correlation coefficient for the relationship between EI and SL was statistically significant ( r = 0.262, P < 01). Conclusions: SL and EI are essential, teachable competencies for effective nurse management and system success. By strengthening these traits, organizations can enhance leadership effectiveness, staff engagement, and care outcomes. This study serves as a foundational step toward building data-driven training frameworks that empower nurse managers to lead themselves, and their teams, with intention, insight, and impact.