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.