Introduction
The topic of this research proposal is the following: Developing, understanding and implementing ‘emotional intelligence’ and ‘mindfulness leadership’ in nursing staff. The proposal addresses the need for all nursing staff and nursing leadership to understand the importance of mindfulness and the role emotional intelligence plays in everyday nursing practice. Research was conducted by reading peer-reviewed journals and grey literature on the subject. The search terms used were the following: ‘nursing practice mindfulness emotional intelligence’; ‘nursing leadership mindfulness’; ‘clinical nursing management’; ‘leadership staff training’; and, ‘staff engagement healthcare’.
Rationale
The rationale for this research topic is the following: Nursing staff often feel that managers are not listening and are too busy to listen to staff concerns. This suggests that there needs to be awareness training in order educate all nurses about the living in the present, being mindful of what goes on around them, and engaging with staff and others in an ongoing consistent manner. Healthcare environments are always busy, stressed and highly charged. It is understandable that nurses and nursing leadership are consistently trying to think a few steps ahead of medical and/or administrative situations. One of the results of this is a certain disengagement in interactions beyond what is necessary. This demonstrates lack of mindfulness and a need for demonstrated emotional intelligence in staff interactions.
Background
As noted, nursing environments are high energy, busy spaces. One of the consequences of this is that leadership often feel as if they are only just managing situations and there is the potential for staff unrest and for nursing leadership to burnout (Portnoy, 2011, pp. 47-48). This does not lend itself to a comfortable working environment and this experience is not limited to only healthcare environments (McKee, Johnsoton, & Massimilian, 2006, p. 6). Mindfulness is an important skill in the leadership arsenal and is also helpful on a personal level for the individual leader’s work-life balance.
Methodology
This research will be a qualitative research study, and will consist of interviews with nursing staff and nursing leadership. These interviews will ask questions related to how nurses and nursing leadership experience their practice on an average day. For nursing staff, questions related to whether or not the nurses feel engaged with their colleagues on an operational level, if the nursing staff feel heard by nursing leadership concerns of other staff, suggestions that nurses may have to improve their work situations, and, what type of training nurses feel would help them operationally and in relating to other staff members. For the nursing leadership, questions would relate to the everyday experience of leadership, issues that nursing leaders find challenging, areas of strengths and weaknesses, and identifying areas for staff training and awareness about mindfulness and emotional intelligence that would be helpful to the working environment. The interviews will be analyzed and emerging themes noted using NVivo software; these themes will be used as a first step in the development of staff training and guidance for the nursing leader. The nurse leader will ask staff if they would like to volunteer to identify and develop a schedule for discussion about the themes that emerged from the interviews. This is to enable a sense of engagement and ownership of the work situation of all staff and the results of these discussions will also be used to identify training topics. Understanding that shifts make it impossible for all staff to present at staff meetings at the same time, there will be two to three sessions for discussions and input so that all staff are engaged in the process.
Proposed Bibliography
Akerjordet, K., & Severinsson, E. (2008). Emotionally intelligent nurse leadership: A literature review study. Journal of Nursing Management , 16 (5), 656-577.
McKee, A., Johnston, F., & Massimilian, R. (2006, May/June). Mindfulness, Hope and Compassion: A Leader’s Road Map to Renewal1. Ivey Business Journal , 1-6.
Pipe, T., Bortz, J., Pendergast, D., & Summers, J. (2009). Nurse leader mindfulness meditation program for stress management: A controlled randomized trial. Journal of Nursing Administration , 39 (3), 103-137.
Portnoy, D. (2011). Burnout and Compassion Fatigue Watch for the Signs. HEALTH PROGRESS.
The Mindfullness Initiative. (2016). Building the Case for Mindfulness in the Workplace. The Mindfullness Initiative. The Mindfullness Initiative

 
Bibliography
Akerjordet, K., & Severinsson, E. (2008). Emotionally intelligent nurse leadership: A literature review study. Journal of Nursing Management , 16 (5), 656-577.
McKee, A., Johnston, F., & Massimilian, R. (2006, May/June). Mindfulness, Hope and Compassion: A Leader’s Road Map to Renewal1. Ivey Business Journal , 1-6.
Pipe, T., Bortz, J., Pendergast, D., & Summers, J. (2009). Nurse leader mindfulness meditation program for stress management: A controlled randomized trial. Journal of Nursing Administration , 39 (3), 103-137.
Portnoy, D. (2011). Burnout and Compassion Fatigue Watch for the Signs. HEALTH PROGRESS.
The Mindfullness Initiative. (2016). Building the Case for Mindfulness in the Workplace. The Mindfullness Initiative. The Mindfullness Initiative.