Capital We Must Develop: Emotional Competence Educating Pre-Licensure Nursing Students.

Emotional competency is a skill commonly overlooked within the nursing curriculum. However, with the complexity of the health care environment and increased emphasis on team collaboration, nurse educators who focus on health promotion and technical, medical, and organizational competencies need to consider adding a focus on soft skills, such as emotional competency. This pilot study engaged 14 pre-licensure nursing students who were involved in an 18-month leadership program. Pre-post scores of the Emotional and Social Competency Inventory are described. Statistical significance was found with three core areas: emotional self-awareness, emotional self-control, and inspirational leadership.