Development of Adolescents' perceptions of the nursing image scale and evaluation of its psychometric properties: A methodological study

Background and purpose: It is important to assess the perception of the nursing image among adolescents, the group closest to the career decision, to enhance their view of the nursing image. This study was conducted to develop the Adolescents' Perceptions of Nursing Image Scale (APNIS) and evaluate its psychometric properties. Method: The study has a descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational, and methodological design. The study was conducted with 614 adolescents aged 12–18 years in Turkey between October 15, 2022, and December 15, 2022. The data were analyzed using the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin coefficient, Barlett's test, factor analyses, Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient, split-half analysis, item sum statistics, Hotelling's T2, and test-retest analysis. Results: As a result of the explanatory factor analysis, the items on the scale were collected under six sub-dimensions, and the scale explained 62.843% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model fit was adequate. The total internal consistency Cronbach alpha value of the scale is 0.90, and the sub-dimension Cronbach alpha values are between 0.70 and 0.90. The Spearman-Brown coefficient of the scale was 0.94, the Guttman-split-half coefficient was 0.94, Hotelling's T2 value was 373.829, F = 9.510, and p 0.05, the scale was found to be summable. The test-retest result of the scale was r = 0.899. Conclusion: The 38-item APNIS is a valid and reliable tool that assesses adolescents' perceptions of the nursing image. Practice implications: The scale, including universal items about the nursing image, is easy and practical to use