Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project is to review and synthesize the available literature on increasing emotional intelligence by teaching mindfulness practice to pre-licensure nursing students. Evidence-based recommendations for nurse educators will be made.|Background: New nurses are particularly at risk of burnout due to the inability to regulate emotions. Nursing burnout has been associated with decreased job satisfaction, increased nursing turnover, and increased cost to employers. Increasing emotional intelligence, through mindfulness practice during pre-licensure education can be a possible tool in helping to prevent burnout.|Methods: A literature review search was involved using databases such as CINAHL, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Ebscohost.|Results: After an extensive literature review, it is recommended that mindfulness practices be incorporated in pre-licensure nursing programs.|Conclusion: Incorporating mindfulness practices may be a strategy to effectively increase emotional intelligence during pre-licensure education.