Psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Nursing Work Environment Scale during public health emergencies

Aims The aim of this research was to translate the Nursing Work Environment Scale in Public Health Emergencies (NWE-PHE) into Persian and assess its validity and reliability within the Iranian context.Methods This methodological study was conducted in two phases between February and June 2025. The Chinese – NWE-PHE was translated and culturally adapted into Persian in accordance with WHO guidelines. Face and content validity were examined through feedback from clinical nurses and expert panels, while construct validity was assessed via exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA) using data from 416 nurses from hospitals in Kermanshah Province, Western Iran. Reliability was evaluated using test–retest analysis, Cronbach’s alpha, and McDonald’s omega coefficients.Results EFA revealed a five-factor structure: Leadership and Emergency Management, Teamwork and Collaboration, Autonomy and Empowerment, Logistics and Humanistic Care, and Workforce and Deployment Support, explaining 68.13% of the total variance. CFA confirmed a good model fit (χ2/df = 2.8, RMSEA = 0.066, CFI = 0.925) with 24 items. Content validity indices were strong (CVI = 0.91; CVR ≥ 0.85). The Persian version demonstrated high internal consistency (α = 0.907, ω = 0.902) and test-retest reliability (r = 0.868), indicating good psychometric properties.Conclusion The Persian version of the NWE-PHE is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating nurses’ work environments during public health emergencies in Iran. This scale can support evidence-based managerial and policy decisions aimed at strengthening workforce resilience and improving care quality during crises.