Development and initial validation of the male nursing student identity scale

To develop and initially validate the Male Nursing Student Identity Scale (MNSIS). Gender stereotypes continue to shape the nursing profession, and male nursing students frequently encounter identity-related challenges. Although nurses’ identity has been widely studied, existing instruments are rarely gender-specific and often pay insufficient attention to identity formation during nursing education. This cross-sectional study developed and initially validated the MNSIS. The total sample ( n = 684) was randomly divided into two subsamples. Sample 1 ( n = 342) was used for item analysis and exploratory factor analysis, and Sample 2 ( n = 342) was used for confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability analyses were conducted using the full sample. The final MNSIS comprised four dimensions and 20 items. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a borderline acceptable model fit. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the four dimensions ranged from 0.900 to 0.949, and McDonald’s omega coefficients ranged from 0.910 to 0.950. The MNSIS demonstrated initial evidence of reliability and validity for assessing identity among male nursing students. It may be useful for research and educational assessment, although further validation in broader samples and longitudinal designs is needed before drawing conclusions about professional belonging, retention, or workforce stability.