Background <p>Emotional intelligence (EI) is crucial in stress management and overall well-being. Emotions are integral to delivering high-quality clinical care, as they facilitate reflective thinking, which is essential for effective nursing practice.</p> Objective <p>This study assessed the relationship between emotional intelligence and reflective thinking among nursing students.</p> Design <p>A cross-sectional correlational design was employed.</p> Methods <p>A stratified random sample of 1,096 nursing students participated in the study. Data were collected using the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form and the Reflective Thinking Questionnaire.</p> Results <p>The findings revealed that 57.0% of nursing students demonstrated high levels of emotional intelligence, with the well-being domain scoring the highest. Additionally, 59.3% exhibited high levels of reflective thinking, particularly in understanding and reflection. A significant positive correlation was identified between emotional intelligence and reflective thinking (<i>r</i> = 0.612, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). All domains of emotional intelligence—emotionality, self-control, sociability, and well-being—were strongly associated with reflective thinking.</p> Conclusion <p>The study concludes that emotional intelligence and reflective thinking are positively correlated among nursing students, with higher emotional intelligence levels linked to enhanced reflective thinking skills. These findings highlight the importance of integrating emotional intelligence and reflective thinking training into nursing education to strengthen emotional and cognitive competencies and better prepare students for clinical practice.</p> Implications for nursing and health policy <p>Nursing curricula should incorporate formal emotional intelligence training as a foundational education component. Given the positive association between EI, reflective thinking, and decision-making, EI modules can help students develop critical emotional competencies, such as self-regulation, empathy, and interpersonal skills. Educational institutions should guide students in cultivating these skills to enhance their reflective thinking and critical decision-making abilities during clinical practice. This integration will ultimately improve patient care outcomes and foster professional resilience among nursing students.</p> Clinical trial number <p>Not applicable.</p>