Reflective Journal Prompts: A Vehicle for Stimulating Emotional Competence in Nursing

This article focuses on the development and pilot-testing of 10 reflective journal prompts designed to stimulate reflection on emotional intelligence competencies. Goleman's framework of emotional intelligence domains and 18 competencies was used to guide development of the prompts and analysis of student (N = 16) responses. A review of the literature related to emotional intelligence competencies and nursing education and practice is presented, and assumptions derived from the literature and guiding the project are summarized. Journal prompts are presented, and examples of student responses illustrating reflection on competencies are provided. The findings suggest that these progressive journal prompts are useful tools for introducing and stimulating reflection on emotional intelligence competencies in nursing students. Recommendations for use in a variety of nursing courses are discussed.