Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Chinese version of the Professional Interpersonal Competency Assessment Scale for novice nurses.

BACKGROUND: Professional interpersonal competency is crucial for mitigating turnover and enhancing practice effectiveness among novice nurses. However, a specific instrument for assessing this competency in the Chinese context is currently lacking. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to translate the Professional Interpersonal Competency Assessment Scale for Novice Nurses (PICASN) into Chinese and evaluate its psychometric properties. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, quantitative design was employed. METHODS: Following Brislin's translation model, the PICASN underwent translation, back-translation, synthesis, cultural adaptation, and pilot testing to create the Chinese version (C-PICASN). Between August and October 2025, novice nurses were recruited via convenience sampling from tertiary grade-A hospitals in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, to assess the scale's reliability and validity. RESULTS: The final C-PICASN consists of 27 items across two factors. Exploratory factor analysis extracted two factors with eigenvalues >1, accounting for 68.140% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated acceptable model fit (χ2/df = 4.038, RMSEA = 0.080, SRMR = 0.040, CFI = 0.925, TLI = 0.916, IFI = 0.925). Content validity indices were satisfactory (I-CVI = 0.875-1.000, S-CVI/Ave = 0.991). The scale exhibited excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.975), test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.909), and split-half reliability (0.952). CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of the PICASN demonstrates good reliability and validity, supporting its use as a reliable tool for assessing professional interpersonal competency among novice nurses in China.