Development and validation of the Male Nurse Identity Scale

To develop the Male Nurse Identity Scale (MNIS) and further evaluate its validity and reliability.

In a context where occupational gender stereotypes continue to influence the nursing profession, the male nurse population often experiences identity dilemmas. The Male Nurse Identity Scale (MNIS) focuses on measuring multidimensional identity; to our knowledge, no similar instrument exists.

The MNIS was constructed through a systematic scale development process in which the total sample(n=837) was randomly split in half: Sample 1(n=418) was subjected to exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Sample 2(n=419) was subjected to validation factor analysis (CFA); the full sample was analyzed for reliability.

An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of Sample 1 yielded a 19-item MNIS scale consisting of four dimensions: self-identity, role-identity, occupational group-identity, and occupational cultural-identity. Structural equation modeling (SEM) showed good model fit. Reliability analyses showed excellent internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from 0.901 to 0.961 for the four dimensions.

The MNIS has strong validity and reliability, and it provides a valuable tool for enhancing the career development of male nurses and their retention in the healthcare workforce.