Abstract
Background: According to the International Society for the Professional Identity of Nursing (ISPIN), professional identity in nursing (PIN) is defined as a “sense of oneself, and in relationship with others, that is influenced by characteristics, norms, and values of the nursing discipline resulting in an individual thinking, acting, and feeling like a nurse.”1 In addition, four domains of professional identity were established: knowledge, leadership, values and ethics, and professional comportment.2 The Professional Identity in Nursing Scale (PINS) was designed, tested, and revised to effectively measure perceptions of PIN related to self and the work environment.
Methods The PINS was created and revised using the DeVellis and Thorpe scale development model.3 There are eight steps in the model including 1) deciding which concept to measure, 2) creating an item pool utilizing subject matter experts4, 3) determining the format of the scale, 4) -8 having an item pool reviewed by experts, 5) administering a sample scale, 6-7) evaluating inclusion and exclusion of items based on psychometric evaluation, and 8) optimizing the scale’s length.
Results Three versions of the PINS have been empirically tested. The PINS 1.0 was tested on nurse educators (n=1074) to measure perceptions of the level of importance for each of the 34 items of PINS 1.0.4 Based on the analysis of the findings and the endorsement of 95% of the participants, items on the PINS 1.0 were reduced from 34 to 30 scale items. Once the PINS 1.0 was revised, PINS 2.0 was tested with a sample of practicing RNs (n=633). Both the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated adequate psychometric properties for the PINS 2.0. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for reliability were: PINS 2.0-self=0.97 and PINS 2.0-environment=0.98.5 After revision of the PINS 2.0, PINS 3.0 was tested with hospital-based RNs (n=334). Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for reliability were: PINS 3.0-self=0.91 and PINS 2.0-environment =0.95.6
Conclusions Future studies include evaluation of PINS 3.0 to effectively quantify nurses’ professional identity and develop interventions. The PINS is currently being tested with nurse practitioners, nurse veterans, and over a dozen doctoral students. It is also being tested in China, Norway, and Iran and going through commercialization development. To further strengthen the psychometrics of the PINS, replication studies are necessary to support reliability and validity.
Notes
References:
1. Godfrey N, Young E. Professional identity. In: Giddens J, ed. Concepts of Nursing Practice. 3rd ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2020.
2. Joseph ML, Phillips BC, Edmonson C, et al. The nurse leader’s role. Nurse Leader. 2021;19(1):27-32. doi: 10.1016/j.mnl.2020.10.001
3. DeVellis RF, Thorpe CT. Scale Development: Theory and Applications. 5th ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.; 2022.
4. Landis T, Godfrey N, Barbosa-Leiker C, et al. National study of nursing faculty and administrators’ perceptions of professional identity in nursing. Nurse Educ. 2022;47(1):13-18. doi:10.1097/NNE.0000000000001063
5. Landis TT, Godfrey N, Barbosa-Leiker C, Clark C.M. Professional Identity in Nursing Scale 2.0: A national study of nurses' professional identity and psychometric properties. J Prof Nurs. 2023;50:61-65. doi:10.1016/j.profnurs.2023.11.004.
6. Landis TT, Rangel T, Timmerman R, Billings C. Professional Identity in Nursing: A Cross-sectional Study of Acute Care Nurses and their Work Environment. Nurs Forum. 2024; [Under Revision].
Sigma Membership
Delta Chi at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Instrument and Tool Development, Workforce, Competence, Professional Identity in Nursing
Recommended Citation
Landis, Tullamora; Godfrey, Nelda; Clark, Cynthia M.; and Barbosa-Leiker, Celestina, "Professional Identity in Nursing Scale Development, Testing, and Future Directions" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 217.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/217
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Professional Identity in Nursing Scale Development, Testing, and Future Directions
Seattle, Washington, USA
Background: According to the International Society for the Professional Identity of Nursing (ISPIN), professional identity in nursing (PIN) is defined as a “sense of oneself, and in relationship with others, that is influenced by characteristics, norms, and values of the nursing discipline resulting in an individual thinking, acting, and feeling like a nurse.”1 In addition, four domains of professional identity were established: knowledge, leadership, values and ethics, and professional comportment.2 The Professional Identity in Nursing Scale (PINS) was designed, tested, and revised to effectively measure perceptions of PIN related to self and the work environment.
Methods The PINS was created and revised using the DeVellis and Thorpe scale development model.3 There are eight steps in the model including 1) deciding which concept to measure, 2) creating an item pool utilizing subject matter experts4, 3) determining the format of the scale, 4) -8 having an item pool reviewed by experts, 5) administering a sample scale, 6-7) evaluating inclusion and exclusion of items based on psychometric evaluation, and 8) optimizing the scale’s length.
Results Three versions of the PINS have been empirically tested. The PINS 1.0 was tested on nurse educators (n=1074) to measure perceptions of the level of importance for each of the 34 items of PINS 1.0.4 Based on the analysis of the findings and the endorsement of 95% of the participants, items on the PINS 1.0 were reduced from 34 to 30 scale items. Once the PINS 1.0 was revised, PINS 2.0 was tested with a sample of practicing RNs (n=633). Both the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated adequate psychometric properties for the PINS 2.0. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for reliability were: PINS 2.0-self=0.97 and PINS 2.0-environment=0.98.5 After revision of the PINS 2.0, PINS 3.0 was tested with hospital-based RNs (n=334). Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for reliability were: PINS 3.0-self=0.91 and PINS 2.0-environment =0.95.6
Conclusions Future studies include evaluation of PINS 3.0 to effectively quantify nurses’ professional identity and develop interventions. The PINS is currently being tested with nurse practitioners, nurse veterans, and over a dozen doctoral students. It is also being tested in China, Norway, and Iran and going through commercialization development. To further strengthen the psychometrics of the PINS, replication studies are necessary to support reliability and validity.
Description
The original Professional Identity in Nursing Scale (PINS) was created in 2020. The PINS has undergone extensive psychometric testing and revisions based on studies conducted with diverse groups of nurses. Psychometric testing determined the PINS to be a valid and reliable measure. Replication studies are needed to strengthen the PINS psychometrics which will allow researchers to quantify nurses’ professional identity and develop interventions to improve nursing outcomes.