1164 Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, January-March 2020, Vol. 14, No. 1 Emotional Intelligence and Work-related Stress among Nurses Working in Psychiatric Hospitals Zaman Ahmed Hrefsh 1 , Hayder H. AL-Hadrawi 2 1 MScN, College of Nursing/University of Babylon, 2 PhD, College Nursing/University of Babylon Abstract Background: Emotional Intelligence is a broad concept that connecting various personality and cognitive traits of human beings. The concept of emotional intelligence is described as the individual’s capability of recognizing their own emotions and the emotions of others, and practice this understanding to navigate important interactions successfully. Aims: The purpose of this study is to assess emotional intelligence among nurses working in psychiatric hospitals, as well as the relationship between emotional intelligence and workplace stress. Methodology: A descriptive correlational study design using a convenience sample of (N=109) nurses working in two main psychiatric hospitals. Two separated scales (The Emotional Intelligence Scale-34 items and The Work-related Stress scale-24 items) was used to meet the study objectives. Results: The study fndings indicate that emotional intelligence levels were ranged between moderate to high among study participants. However, the majority had moderate work-related stress about (61%). Nurses’ work stress was found to have signifcant relationship with their emotional intelligent level. Conclusion and Recommendations: Despite the positive levels of emotional intelligence nurse have, working in psychiatric hospitals is still cause of stress for nurses. The statistical relationship found in this study highlights the importance of enhancing emotional intelligence among nurses working in psychiatric hospitals settings by engaging them in effective training programs to maximize their abilities of adjustment and reduce their levels of work-stress. Keywords: Emotional Intelligence, Work-related Stress, Psychiatric Nurses Introduction Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a broad concept that connects different personality and cognitive traits of humans, including emotional processing, emotional understanding, integrating affects and management of feeling states, 16 . The concept frst introduced by Salovey and Mayer in 1990, and it was defned as cognitive skills that introspectively can detect and regulate affective states and assess the emotional state of others. In general, emotional intelligence is described as the ability of an individual to recognize own emotions and others emotions, and to practice this understanding to navigate important interactions successfully 9 . A clear understanding of EI and its diffculties is helpful in the practice of nursing; due to the understanding of how emotions merge with cognition. Generally, EI helps nurses to improve relationships, manage their patients more effectively, make better decisions, and positively affects the quality of care provided to patients and families 11 . The study aims to assess emotional intelligence among nurses working in psychiatric hospitals, as well as the relationship between emotional intelligence and workplace stress. Emotional intelligence is mainly focus on people with the ability to express, evaluate, and adjust enthusiasms and emotions of themselves and others, as well as those who can properly guide and control the thought and performance 13 . Therefore, emotional intelligence is considered as an effective power to deal with job stressors. Also, nurses with high emotional intelligence and emotional managements are able to direct positive feelings exchanged by healthcare individuals to decrease the negative effects of job stress 13 . Nurses DOI Number: 10.37506/v14/i1/2020/ijfmt/193065