Emotional Intelligence And Spiritual Awareness: A Management-Based Framework To Enhance Well-Being In High-Stressed Surgical Environments

Abstract

Surgical environments are among the most demanding healthcare settings, characterized by high cognitive load, emotional strain, time-sensitive decision-making, and frequent exposure to critical patient outcomes. As stress continues to affect the psychological well-being and performance of surgical teams, there is increasing attention toward non-technical competencies such as Emotional Intelligence (EI) and spiritual awareness. This paper proposes a management-based integrative framework emphasizing EI and spiritual awareness as complementary tools to enhance well-being, resilience, interpersonal communication, and quality of care in surgical environments. A narrative review methodology was used to synthesize evidence from psychology, spirituality, healthcare management, and occupational well-being. Findings indicate that EI supports emotional regulation, empathy, and teamwork, while spiritual awareness promotes meaning, inner balance, and stress-buffering mechanisms. The proposed framework highlights leadership training, mindfulness-based interventions, emotional regulation programs, and spiritual well-being activities tailored for high-stress surgical settings. The study contributes a theoretical model for hospital administrators, policymakers, and surgical educators aiming to strengthen workforce well-being and reduce burnout.