Perception of Coercive Actions by Nurses Scale: Instrument Development Study

Background and Purpose: Psychiatric nurses and members of the psychiatric care team use coercive practices but are conflicted about their forcefulness and need to protect patient safety. Coercive practices, with numerous negative connotations, are also used in other health care settings. This study describes the psychometric properties of the Perception of Coercive Actions by Nurses Scale (PCANS). Methods: Initial content validity was established. Items matched trauma-informed, informal coercion, formal coercion, and coercive threat types. Psychiatric nurses completed the 23-item PCANS in a pilot study. A convenience sample of psychiatric registered nurses (N = 213) completed a revised PCANS. Results: Exploratory factor analysis produced subscales for PCANS's final version: trauma-informed, formal coercive, and coercive threat. Conclusions: Trauma-informed, caring practices, and additional testing of the PCANS are needed.