Critical analysis of 2 nurse perception instruments: the Index of Work Satisfaction and the Practice Environment...

This study provides a critical comparison and analysis of the Index of Work Satisfaction (IWS) and the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI).

Nurses' perception of work environment is of critical importance and is linked to patient safety. Two widely accepted instruments, the IWS and the PES-NWI, are used in the process of Magnet designation.

This study used existing data that measured nurses' perception of work environment using the IWS and PES-NWI.

Nurses reported a positive perception of work environment as measured by both the IWS and PES-NWI. Perception of work environment as measured by the IWS was significantly lower compared with the PES-NWI (P < .001).

Although there was conceptual overlap between the subscales of the IWS and PES-NWI, the differences in the constructs that each tool measured culminated with significant differences in overall scores.