Development of a Scale to Measure Nursing Difficulties Experienced by Migrant Nurses : A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Migrant nurses require support when they work overseas, but what they need support for requires clarification.This study aimed to developed a scale measuring the nursing difficulties experienced by migrant nurses and examined its reliability and validity. Methods: Using convenience sampling, China-educated nurses who worked as nurses in Japan were recruited. Exploratory factor analysis, criterion validity, and known-groups technique were used to assess the self-created 24-item scale of the nursing difficulties experienced by migrant nurses. Results: A total of 662 migrant nurses who working in Japan participated, and 303 responses were collected. A three-factor scale with 20 items was identified, consisting of “language competence in medical conversation,” “considerate of patients’ feelings with nursing practice,” and “smooth relationships with colleagues.” The Cronbach’s α for the scale was .96, and αs ranged from .84 to .90 for each factor. The correlation between each factor ranged from .52 to .68, indicating significant positive correlations. Regarding validity, we based our analysis on the known-groups technique and found significant negative correlations with the number of years of nursing experience, which was hypothesized, and difficulty was reduced by accumulating nursing experience in Japan. Criterion validity correlations were noted between the developed scale and the Professional Identity Scale for Nurses (r = -0.29, 95% confidence interval -0.40 ~ -0.18) and the Burnout Assessment Tool (r = 0.36, 95% confidence interval 0.25 ~ 0.46). Conclusions: The scale was confirmed to be valid and reliable, and it can be used to measure the nursing difficulties experienced by migrant nurses.