Development and Validation of a Decent Work Scale for Hospital Nurses: An Experiential Perspective on Working Conditions.

Background/Objectives: Nursing is characterised by demanding working conditions, including long working hours and staffing shortages. Although Decent Work (DW) has been proposed as a framework for improving labour conditions, existing measures do not adequately capture how these conditions are experienced in practice. This study aimed to develop and validate the Decent Work Scale for Hospital Nurses (DWS-N), conceptualising DW as the experiential realisation of structural labour conditions. Methods: A multi-phase methodological design was employed. In Phase 1, 184 items were generated through concept analysis and refined to 142 items via expert review. In Phase 2, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to examine structural validity and reliability. In Phase 3, cross-validation and criterion-related validity were assessed using an independent sample. Results: A five-factor structure comprising 22 items was identified: Meaningful and Fulfilling Work, Protection of Workers' Rights, Supportive and Safe Working Environment, Appropriate Working Time and Work-Life Balance, and Adequate Compensation. The scale demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.896) and acceptable fit (CFI = 0.969, RMSEA = 0.037). Cross-validation supported model stability (CFI = 0.917, RMSEA = 0.070). DW was positively associated with work engagement and negatively associated with burnout. Different dimensions of DW showed distinct patterns of association with occupational outcomes. Conclusions: The DWS-N is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing Decent Work in nursing. By capturing the experiential realisation of structural labour conditions, the scale offers a context-specific approach to understanding nurses' working environments, with potential applications in workforce management and organisational policy.