Impulsivity among Senior Nursing Students: The role of Emotional Intelligence and clinical performance

Objective. This study examined the relationship between impulsivity, emotional intelligence, and clinical performance. Methods. Through a total enumerative sampling technique, this correlational study involved 229 pre-final and final-year nursing students from Northern India. Data were collected using validated questionnaires measuring Emotional Intelligence -EI- (Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Scale), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale–Brief (BIS‑Brief), and clinical competence (Clinical Competence Questionnaire). Results. All participants were nursing students, with 62% in their pre-final year; however, only 83.41% expressed interest in pursuing a nursing career. A significant negative correlation of impulsivity with self-awareness (r=-0.54, p=0.021) and advanced nursing skills (r=-0.61, p=0.031) was found. Among selected socio-demographic variables, age (p=0.049) emerged as a significant positive predictor of impulsive behaviour. Conclusion. The findings suggest impulsivity is inversely related to self-awareness, a domain of EI, and advanced nursing skills, implying that students with higher self-awareness exhibit better emotional regulation and decision-making in clinical settings.