In developing countries, successful mental health nursing practice amidst adverse working conditions, require coping strategies and skills including emotional intelligence. Therefore, psychiatric nurses’ level of emotional intelligence is key for optimization of patient satisfaction. We aimed at assessing nurses’ level of emotional intelligence, as well as associated factors, in the two Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospitals (FNPH) in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria. Cross-sectional study design was utilized, and data was obtained from randomly selected nurses in each FNPH Benin and Calabar. Schulte’s Emotional Intelligence Test was used to assess level of nurses emotional intelligence. SPSS version 21.0 was used to enter and analyze data, with p-value set at 0.05. One hundred and fifty (150) nurses were surveyed, with equal proportion in each study center, and a response rate of 98%. Mean age of nurses was 38.8 ± 8.4 years. Nurses mean EI score was 130.1 ± 11.8 (92 - 159). Moderate and high EI status was found in 20% and 80% of respondents, respectively. Compared with subjects with 20 or less years duration of practice, those with greater than 20 years, had significantly higher mean level of EI (p=0.00). Other sociodemographic and occupational characteristics did not significantly influence mean levels of EI (p>0.05). Also comparing nurses in Benin and Calabar, there was no significant difference in mean values for total emotional intelligence (3.94 vs. 3.93), self-awareness (4.02 vs. 4.05), self-regulation (4.00 vs. 4.08), self-motivation (4.29 vs. 4.15), empathy (3.61 vs. 3.62), and social skills (3.82 vs. 3.77) (p>0.05). Longer duration of practice was associated with higher level of EI (p=0.00). Psychiatric nurses in developing countries need earlier exposure, especially through establishment of more mental health institutions. There is also need for consistency in institutionally-driven capacity building, towards improvement in practice experience and EI of nurs