Orchid AB
Nurses’ Self-Image: The Development of a Score (303621)
Rima Sassine Kazan, University Saint Joseph*Joumana Stephan Yeretzian, University Saint Joseph
Claire Ghafari Zablit, University Saint Joseph
Keywords: nurses self-image, operationalization, score, reliability, validity
The nursing profession has been experiencing high turnover and low retention rates suggesting dissatisfaction with the occupation. Many studies have addressed these issues but few have attempted to evaluate the nurses’ self-image using an instrument that allows its operationalization and quantification satisfactorily. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to develop, test and adapt an instrument that would generate a score that projects the image that a nurse has of herself and her profession. The self-administered questionnaire was based on a previously constructed descriptive tool proposed by Belimage. It consisted of around 180 questions and was distributed to a random sample of 666 nurses chosen from the register of the Order of Nurses in Lebanon. Conceptual frameworks in conjunction with exploratory factor analysis helped retain 70 items categorized into four dimensions namely: competence, work environment, nursing practice and work conditions. The internal consistency of the total score was 0.92; 0.65-0.92 for the dimensions with an average inter-item correlation of 0.20-0.35. Correlations to item-totals were highest and mostly moderate for items within the same dimension. Associations with socio-demographic variables and outcomes measuring short and long-term plans were generally in the expected direction. Preliminary validation in 150 nurses from one hospital showed high internal consistency and significant associations with a direct question evaluating nurses’ self-image. However, the factor analysis for this data did not group the variables in the same way suggesting the need for further testing of the instrument in diverse nursing populations, among larger samples and against different outcomes. There is definitely a need to evaluate the value that nurses themselves place on the various dimensions of their occupation in order to properly assess the daily problems that they face and be able to intervene and improve their working conditions.