Development and validation of professional competency scale (PCS) for newly graduated nurses

To develop the Professional Competency Scale (PCS) with validation evidence to assess professional competency in newly graduated nurses.

Newly graduated nurses' competency affects retention. However, there is a dearth of reliable and valid measures assessing professional competency.

A methodological study to develop and validate a scale.

The PCS was developed following the nine procedural steps proposed by DeVellis and Thorpe. A total of 650 newly graduated nurses were recruited from hospitals of different levels across Taiwan. Structural validity was tested using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and criterion-related validity was also evaluated. Internal consistency reliability was assessed with Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω.

An initial 51-item questionnaire was developed. Exploratory factor analysis indicated the removal of 11 items, leaving 40 items across three factors of professional competency for newly graduated nurses: clinical care, soft skills and education and management (44% of variance explained). Confirmatory factor analysis results supported the three-factor structure with 40 items. Criterion-related validity was supported by positive relationships with work adaptation (r = 0.59-0.76; p < .001). The PCS demonstrated high internal consistency (α = 0.96; ω = 0.96).

A 40-item PCS for newly graduated nurses in Taiwan was developed and demonstrated good psychometric characteristics.