Measurement of the professional self-concept of nurses: developing a measurement instrument

The professional self-concept of nurses is an important component in the professional and academic development of the nursing profession. Few studies have concentrated on the careful development of the construct of professional self-concept in nurses, using a nursing sample, and particularly an Australian sample. This study focuses on a pilot group of nurses from the Hunter Region of New South Wales to develop the multi-dimensional construct professional self concept of nurses. A 56 item instrument using Likert scales was developed to measure the constructs flexibility/creativity, knowledge, skill/competence, caring, communication, leadership and satisfaction. The instrument was administered to 170 third year students enrolled in a Diploma of Applied Science (Nursing) and the results subjected to item analysis, factor analytical studies, and reliability estimates. Three factors emerged which accounted for 40% of the variance in responses constituting the professional self-concept of nurses: 'professional practice' (incorporating the dimensions leadership, skill and flexibility), 'satisfaction', and 'communication'. The study contains suggestions for the further use and research implications for a 27 item instrument for measuring the professional self-concept of nurses which has demonstrated validity and reliability.