Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

Which emotional intelligence competency is associated with recognizing others' feelings?

1. Initiative

2. Empathy

3. Influence

4. Conflict management

The correct answer is: Empathy

The correct choice is empathy, which is a key emotional intelligence competency that involves the ability to understand and recognize the emotions and feelings of others. Empathy allows individuals to sense what others are experiencing emotionally and respond in a sensitive and supportive manner. This skill is crucial for effective communication and relationship-building in any clinical setting, especially when caring for adult patients who may be experiencing complex emotional and psychological issues. In contrast, initiative refers to the propensity to act on one’s own and pursue opportunities without being prompted, which does not specifically involve recognizing others' feelings. Influence relates to the ability to affect the emotions and behaviors of others, but it requires a foundation of understanding those emotions rather than just recognizing them. Conflict management focuses on resolving disputes and finding constructive outcomes during disagreements, which, while it can involve some degree of emotional recognition, is not strictly about identifying and understanding emotions in others. Therefore, empathy stands out as the core competency associated explicitly with recognizing others' feelings.