Purpose: This study was conducted to develop and test the effects of an emotional intelligence program for undergraduate nursing students. Methods: The study design was a mixed method research. Participants were 36 nursing students (intervention group: 17, controlgroup: 19). The emotional intelligence program was provided for 4 weeks (8 sessions, 20 hours). Data were collected between August 6 andOctober 4, 2013. Quantitative data were analyzed using Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, t-test, repeated measure ANOVA, and paired t-testwith SPSS/WIN 18.0. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: Quantitative results showed that emotional intelligence,communication skills, resilience, stress coping strategy, and clinical competence were significantly better in the experimental groupcompared to the control group. According to the qualitative results, the nursing students experienced improvement in emotional intelligence,interpersonal relationships, and empowerment, as well as a reduction in clinical practice stress after participation in the emotional intelligenceprogram. Conclusion: Study findings indicate that the emotional intelligence program for undergraduate nursing students is effectiveand can be recommended as an intervention for improving the clinical competence of undergraduate students in a nursing curriculum.