Hospital emergency departments are highly stressful work environments where nurses must make rapid decisions, manage complex medical conditions, remain focused, and maintain emotional control under pressure [1], [2], [3]. In these settings, emotional intelligence (EI) plays a critical role in supporting nurses’ resilience and professional functioning [4]. EI is the ability to perceive, understand, manage, and regulate emotions in oneself and others to enhance professional effectiveness [5], [6], [7]. Prior research has shown that higher EI is associated with lower psychological distress and burnout among nurses [8], [9], improved clinical decision-making [10], [11], and better work-related outcomes, including organizational commitment, work engagement, and overall performance [12], [13], [14], [15], [16].

Within nursing practice, work performance reflects the effective and efficient execution of professional responsibilities to deliver safe, high-quality, and patient-centered care [17], [18]. It encompasses competencies such as clinical judgment, communication, teamwork, time management, and the ability to function effectively in high-pressure situations [17], [19]. High levels of work performance are linked to improved patient outcomes, enhanced team collaboration, and greater healthcare system efficiency [20], whereas poor performance may compromise care quality and negatively affect nurses’ professional development, health, and well-being [21], [22], [23]. Accordingly, identifying factors that influence nurses’ work performance remains a priority.

In Palestine, particularly in the West Bank, emergency nurses encounter additional challenges related to political instability, limited healthcare resources, and heavy patient loads [24], [25], [26]. These stressors may increase emotional burden and undermine well-being, positioning EI as a potentially vital factor in sustaining effective work performance in this context [24], [25], [26]. Despite its importance, limited research has examined the relationship between EI and work performance among nurses, and even fewer studies have focused on emergency nurses in Palestine [27], [28], [29], [30], [31], [32], [33]. Notably, only one Palestinian study has addressed both constructs, reporting high EI and work performance among intensive care nurses, underscoring the need for further investigation in other clinical settings [24].

Furthermore, demographic factors such as age, gender, education level, and years of experience have been shown to interact with emotional competencies and may influence work performance [15], [34]. Therefore, this study aims to examine the relationship between EI, demographic characteristics, and work performance among Palestinian emergency nurses in the West Bank. By addressing this gap, the study contributes to regional literature and provides evidence that may inform nursing education, workforce development, and healthcare policy in high-pressure clinical environments.

Fig. 1 explains the conceptual model which illustrates the relationships between independent variables (emotional intelligence and demographic characteristics including age, gender, work experience, and educational level) and the dependent variable (work performance).