The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence Levels and Empathy Skills of Nursing College's First Grade Students

Aim: The aim of the research was to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence levels and empathy skills of nursing college's first grade students. Method: A descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 125 students who agreed to participate on a voluntary basis, in a nursing college in 2008-2009 the spring semester of academic year. Data were collected with a questionnaire including socio-demographic characteristics of the students, and Emotional Intelligence Evaluation Scale and Empathy Skill Scale. In the analysis of data, frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and correlation analysis were performed using SPSS Package Programme. Results: The average age of students was 20.04 +/- 1.24, 72.8% of students is composed of the girls. The mean total score of students was 116.0 +/- 19.7 for emotional intelligence, and for empathy skills was 124.7 +/- 14.3. Emotional intelligence and empathy skills of the average total score between the mean scores was statistically signicifanta moderate positive correlation was observed (r=0.664, p<0.01). Conclusion: The level of emotional intelligence and empathy skills of the nursing college's first grade students including in the research was low, and between their emotional intelligence levels and empathy skills, a positive correlation was seen.