Discussion Social Emotional Intelligence Table

Social Emotional Intelligence Power Skills Scenario
Self-Awareness:

Mindfulness

Identifying emotions

Assertiveness

 I work at the emergency department of a level 5 health facility. Majority of the patients received into the hospital go through the emergency department, particularly persons with complicated illnesses. The importance of self-awareness in improving the nurse-patient relationship in my experience cannot be overemphasized. Patient P.A was a 28-year-old obese African American lady who presented to the emergency department with difficulty in breathing. Her examination revealed a respiratory rate of 23 breaths per minute, blood pressure of 124/87 mmHg, temperature of 36.60C and oxygen saturation of 88 %. Auscultation revealed wheezing in both right and left lungs with no added sounds. Her presentation showed classical signs and symptoms of acute asthmatic exacerbation, but I was assertive to run diagnostic lab tests (Younas et al., 2020). The chest expiratory spirometry revealed an FEV1/FVC ratio of 0.68, which was moderately reduced. I was mindful of her respiratory distress and started her on inhaled salbutamol immediately. I learned that she was diagnosed with asthma at 18 years and started on oral prednisolone but had exposed herself to cat fur before her current exacerbation. I was becoming angry at why she should expose herself to well-known allergens but I identified my emotions, controlled them and explained to her why it was important to avoid triggers for her condition.
Interpersonal communication:

Active Listening

Relationship Building

Caring & Consideration

 While working at the emergency department, I had to maintain proper eye contact while observing other communication cues such as facial expressions, gesture and posture (Sibiya, 2018). During consultation, I could tell we were both active listeners as marked by the questions she raised. I was concerned why she had experienced another exacerbation whereas she had medication. On learning her triggers, I advised her to avoid pet fur and other allergens. Also, I promised to consult with other care team members to determine whether she would require an increment in the dosage.
Executive Function:

Shifting

Selective attention

Inhibition

 Shifting encompasses individual capacity to switch between tasks and strategies. At the emergency department, my experience required shifting from observing vital signs to administering medication and monitoring the therapeutic effects plus potential side effects. Selective attention comprises focusing on specific tasks while ignoring irrelevant information. Patient P.A was particularly talkative and I had to concentrate on details that were relevant to her medical history. At instances, I had to apply leading questions to derive the information required. Inhibition is a professional’s capacity to voluntarily suppress the dominant response. I exhibited inhibition when I was agitated during the first phase of the consultation process, in which P.A was giving irrelevant information. The agitation developed since at the emergency department my responsibility includes attending to the needs of multiple critical patients, requiring fast medical service. Nonetheless, I suppressed the agitation on recalling that therapeutic conversation is part of the patient’s medical needs, prompting me to pay full attention.
Social Awareness:

Empathy

Service ethic

Organizational awareness

 I portrayed empathy by recognizing, comprehending and attending to the emotions and perspectives of patient P.A. Among her worries was that her asthmatic attack was due to witchcraft which is part of the superstitions surrounding her ethnic upbringing. I listened attentively to her views, without unnecessarily disregarding her opinion, and explained to her the scientific basis and pathophysiology of asthma. The information she gained enabled her to understand how her medication worked. Service ethics is the professional’s capacity to comprehend and respond to patients’ needs. I explained to P.A the basis of her illness to assist her deal with the superstitions and also enable her understand how her medication worked. Organizational awareness constitutes comprehension of how a system works. I referred P.A to a general physician who would recommend to her the most effective strategies of managing her condition. The physician would also provide her with more information regarding her state and the most recent advances in management.
Self-Management:

Positive affirmation

Maintenance of healthy-work balance

 Self-care is a diverse subject, incorporating multiple aspects. In my experience at the emergency department, I realized positive self-affirmation resulted in positive attitudes that lead to increased self-satisfaction and stronger interprofessional relationships (Nazareth et al., 2018). I also learned to maintain a healthy work-life balance to avoid overworking and related exhaustion or stress. I engaged in breaks via activities such as having lunch, strolls and calling loved ones that enabled me to stay sharp, motivated and healthy. Maintaining the balance is instrumental in avoiding psychological complications such as depression, anxiety, insomnia and heart diseases.

 

References