Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Forensic Nursing Competency Scale-Short Form for Hospital Nurses

Abstract

Aim: To develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Forensic Nursing Competency Scale-Short Form (FNCS-SF) for hospital nurses. Background: Nurses who care for victims of sexual abuse, domestic violence and elder or child abuse require forensic nursing competencies. However, few valid and reliable tools exist to assess these competencies in hospital settings. Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: The study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 involved the development and refinement of the FNCS-SF with input from 10 nurses. Phase 2 tested the tool's psychometric properties. A total of 420 nurses from two tertiary hospitals in South Korea participated. Participants were divided into two groups: Study 1 (n = 200) for exploratory factor analysis and Study 2 (n = 220) for confirmatory factor analysis. Results: The FNCS-SF consists of 27 items across six factors: awareness of the medicolegal problem, evidence-based practice in forensic nursing, collaborative forensic nursing with community partners, safety and security, professional career development and multidisciplinary integrated knowledge. An item analysis revealed significant correlations between each item and the total scale score. Criterion validity was supported by significant correlations between the FNCS-SF and attitudes and beliefs towards forensic nursing and the performance of the forensic nursing role. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a six-factor model with good fit indices. Cronbach's alpha indicated strong internal consistency. Conclusion: The FNCS-SF is a valid and reliable tool for assessing hospital nurses' forensic nursing competencies, which can improve patient safety and treatment outcomes. Further validation in diverse clinical settings is recommended. Impact: The FNCS-SF can be used to improve forensic nursing competency through professional development. Patient or Public Contribution: None. Implications for Clinical Practice: The FNCS-SF provides a standardised framework to evaluate nurses' forensic competency, guiding education and practice to enhance clinical preparedness and deliver victim-centred care. Reporting Methods: STROBE guidelines.