Competency Inventory for Registered Nurses in Macao: instrument validation

AIM: This paper is a report of a study to test the reliability and construct validity of the Competency Inventory for Registered Nurses. BACKGROUND: A reliable competency assessment tool is a basic yardstick to assist in assessing the generic competencies of nurses and to evaluate the outcome of various education programmes. The Competency Inventory for Registered Nurses was developed in mainland China. Confirmatory evidence is needed to support its proposed structure, and to further estimate its psychometric properties. METHODS: A quantitative descriptive design and stratum random sampling method were used to recruit 533 Registered Nurses in Macao in 2007. Internal consistency reliability and stability were estimated by Cronbach's alpha and paired t-test, respectively. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to test the construct validity of the instrument. RESULTS: Internal consistency Cronbach's alpha was 0.908 for the overall scale and 0.718-0.903 for subscales. The factor loading value across 55 items ranged from 0.310 to 0.725. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the model exhibited acceptable goodness-of-fit statistic indices. The 7-factor structure of the Competency Inventory for Registered Nurses, with 55 items included after deletion of three low loading items, was confirmed. CONCLUSION: The model of Registered Nurses' competency was confirmed. As the instrument was initially developed in mainland China and successfully validated in this group, it is suggested that this instrument also has the potential for cross-cultural application.