Measuring nurses' practice environments with the revised nursing work index: evidence from registered nurses in the Veterans Health Administration

Res Nurs Health. 2007 Feb;30(1):31-44. doi: 10.1002/nur.20172.

Abstract

The Revised Nursing Work Index (NWI-R) is a widely used instrument for evaluating registered nurses' (RNs) practice environments. The existence of multiple subscale sets from the NWI-R raises questions about its generalizability. We tested the validity of the one-, three-, and five-subscale sets from the NWI-R and derived a short-form subscale set using a sample of RNs from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The prior sets do not have an excellent fit to these data. Results of exploratory factor analyses suggested a four-factor model with Opportunity for Advancement, Collegial Nurse-Physician Relations, Staffing Adequacy, and Nurse Manager Leadership as the most salient and parsimonious solution. Additional research is needed to corroborate these findings in other nurse samples and settings.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Career Mobility
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Female
  • Health Care Surveys / methods*
  • Hospitals, Veterans
  • Humans
  • Leadership
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / organization & administration*
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / supply & distribution
  • Organizational Culture*
  • Personnel Staffing and Scheduling*
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • United States
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Workplace