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

AIM: To develop the Professional Competency Scale (PCS) with validation evidence to assess professional competency in newly graduated nurses. BACKGROUND: Newly graduated nurses' competency affects retention. However, there is a dearth of reliable and valid measures assessing professional competency. DESIGN: A methodological study to develop and validate a scale. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSION: A 40-item PCS for newly graduated nurses in Taiwan was developed and demonstrated good psychometric characteristics.