The psychometric properties of five Professional Identity measures in a sample of nursing students

Summary Background Researchers have yet to fully explore and adequately measure Professional Identity (PI) in nursing. Objectives This paper aims to examine the psychometrics of five measures of PI and compare these results in first and third year nursing students. As a consequence of utilising multiple self-assessed survey tools this study also examines common methods bias. Design The study utilised an on-line survey to gather responses from nursing students. Methods The pilot study examined the validity and reliability of the five measures while investigating the potential for common methods bias. Results All five measures tested demonstrated poorer psychometric properties or model fits for this sample than those reported by their original authors. One measure demonstrated a small mean score increase from first to third year, while all others revealed a fall from first to third year, although these were not significant. Harman's tests performed on all scales were negative for common methods bias. Conclusions A psychometrically strong measure of PI was not determined however, this may relate to the sample size in this pilot study. The fall of PI from first to third year and the factors that influence such change may have implications for the recruitment and retention of nurses.