Development and Validation of the Nurse Prescribing Self-Efficacy Scale

Abstract

Low self-efficacy is a barrier to effective nurse prescribing. Therefore, nurses’ self-efficacy should be assessed using validated tools. We aimed to develop and psychometrically test the Nurse Prescribing Self-Efficacy Scale (NP-SES). We conducted an observational cross-sectional study with 290 nurses between January and June 2019. We studied the NP-SES’ reliability (i.e., internal consistency and temporal stability), validity (i.e., content, criterion, and construct) and legibility. The NP-SES showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=0.958) and temporal stability (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.783). The NP-SES also showed good content validity (scale’s content validity index=0.98) and criterion validity (r=0.75; p<0.001). Construct validity analysis revealed the NP-SES’ three-dimensional structure and showed its ability to detect significant differences between nurses with different levels of experience. Our psychometric analysis suggests that the NP-SES is a reliable and valid instrument that could be used to assess nurses’ self-efficacy in nurse prescribing.