Validation of Turkish Translation of the Nurses' Occupational Stressors Scale: A Methodological Study

Background Nurses have heavy responsibilities, primarily because they deal with people's health, pain, grief, and death. They work for hours in physically and mentally demanding roles that can affect their own health. Therefore, nurses face many challenges and risks due to the characteristics of the institution, the community, their colleagues, patients, and their families while providing care, which leads to occupational stress. Identifying the levels of occupational stress and stress factors among nurses, developing coping mechanisms, and minimizing stress factors are crucial. Objective This study was conducted using a methodological design to first determine the validity and reliability of the "Nurses' Occupational Stressors Scale (NOSS)" in Turkish, with the aim of identifying occupational stress factors for nurses. Methods Research data were collected using the "Nurses' Demographic Form" and the "NOSS" scale. The sample consisted of 296 volunteer nurses working at Muğla Training and Research Hospital. Data were collected between October and December 2022. The scale's linguistic and content validity was ensured, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was applied. Item-total correlation analyses and Cronbach's α coefficient were calculated to assess the reliability of the NOSS. Results The Turkish version of NOSS, consisting of 21 items and three dimensions, has been validated. Factor loading values ​​of the scale items ranged from 0.44 to 0.81. The model fit measures were RMR = 0.027 ≤ 0.08, GFI = 0.978 ≥ 0.9, AGFI = 0.972 ≥ 0.9, NFI = 0.969 ≥ 0.9, RFI = 0.965 ≥ 0.9, and PNFI = 0.852 ≥ 0.5. These results show good fit indices for the 21 items and the three-factor CFA model. All item-total score correlations ranged from 0.27 to 0.71. The Cronbach α coefficient of NOSS is 0.91. NOSS was determined to have excellent internal consistency. The ICC value of NOSS is higher than 0.80, showing excellent fit. Furthermore, the correlation between test and retest is between 0.45 and 0.85, and all correlations are statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion The Turkish form of "NOSS" has been determined to be valid and reliable. This tool can be used to identify occupational stressors for nurses.