Central European Management Journal ISSN:2336-2693 | E-ISSN:2336-4890 Vol. 31 Iss. 1 (2023) 10.57030/23364890.cemj.31.1.69 654 | Page Determinants and Manifestations of Nurse Managers Emotional Intelligence in Ghana; A qualitative enquiry Charles Agyemang Prempeh 1 , Emmanuel Numapau Gyamfi 2 , Stephen T. Odonkor 2 1 PhD Research Scholar registered with Livingstone International University of Tourism Excellence and Business Management (LIUTEBM) 2 GRADXS Research mentor Livingstone International University of Tourism Excellence and Business Management (LIUTEBM) ABSTRACT Nurses promote quality services for the betterment of patients when successfully supervised by an effective nurse manager. A nurse managers effectiveness does not only rely on their skill set but their ability to recognise their emotions and that of others and considering how their emotions manifest at the working environment which is a significant requirement for a nurse manager to leading subordinates and meeting deadlines and achieving set targets. This survey aimed at exploring the determinants and manifestations of nurse manager’s emotional intelligence at health care institutions in Ghana. This was a qualitative study that employed an explorative cross-sectional design and a purposive sampling technique to recruit 15 nurse managers with the assistance of an interview guide. Data collected were manually transcribed using Microsoft word and content analysis conducted. Labels were assigned to significant information generated form transcribed data and emergencing codes identified. Similar codes were combined to form sub-themes and several sub-themes into themes. In all six-sub-themes and three themes were developed form the data. Findings revealed nurse managers' ability to apply emotions (intra- personnel emotional awareness) to handle work-related challenges. Their ability to be emotionally aware of the structures of an organisation enabled them to adapt to a specific leadership style. Additionally, their interpersonal emotional awareness enabled them to socially interact with staff and patients, enabling them to professionally respond to ethical dilemmatic circumstances. The study concluded that, nurse managers were abrased with how their emotional intelligence manifest whilst in active services, therefore health policy makers, stakeholders and nursing professional associations should incorporate emotional intelligence into nursing education and performance review. Keywords: Emotional intelligence, Nurse Manager, Manifestation, Determinants, Ghana. 1 Introduction Emotional intelligence emerged more than two decades ago and has been acknowledged as an important skill set for success in healthcare organisation (1). Demonstrating Emotional intelligence in the field of nursing has become necessary as it benefits not only nurses in daily care practices but also the patients and immediate families (2). Since emotional intelligence focuses on the pertinent skills of medical practitioners particularly nurses, it has also been found to be very important for successful nursing leadership and career success (3). Though healthcare organisations are experiencing significant changes, which have an impact on the manner professionals deliver quality services, relate and build strong cohesion among patients, co-workers and top management (4), their emotional awareness are crucial because they may either promote or impede change processes in the health setting which may derail and block effective planning (4). Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to comprehend, regulate, and use one's own emotions as well as those of others to influence one's thinking and behaviour (5). It is the capacity to recognise, express, comprehend, control, and employ emotions in leading others (3). Another definition of emotional intelligence is "the set of abilities (verbal and non-verbal) that enable a person to generate, recognise, express, understand, and evaluate their own and others' emotions to guide thinking and action that successfully cope with environmental demands and pressures" (6). However, Goleman who is accredited to be the father of emotional intelligence defined EI as the capacity to comprehend others' feelings and emotional self-esteem. According to Goleman (1995), emotional intelligence (EI) is a subset of social intelligence that includes the capacity to recognise not just one's feelings but also those of others.