Development and validation of a healthy work environment quality instrument | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Development and validation of a healthy work environment quality instrument Sunhwa Shin, Eun-Hye Lee This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3536578/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 12 Jan, 2024 Read the published version in BMC Nursing → Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background As the importance of a healthy work environment for nurses' good practice and patient safety has been recognized, there is a need to assess nurses' perceptions of the quality of a healthy work environment. Methods The initial items for the instrument were developed through literature review and interviews. The initial items were evaluated for content validity by ten experts. Two hundred and forty-seven shift nurses participated in this study through face-to-face surveys to test the reliability and validity of the instrument. The evaluation was used for item and confirmatory factor analyses to assess the criterion-related validity and internal consistency of the instrument. Test-retest reliability was analyzed using data from thirty-two nurses. Results The final instrument consisted of 23 items with five sub-factors identified through confirmatory factor analysis. Criterion-related validity was established using the K-PES-NWI (r = .54). Cronbach's alpha for the total items was .85, and test-retest reliability was .73. Conclusion The results confirmed the validity and reliability of the developed instrument. This instrument can be used as a basis for evaluating the healthy work environment quality of shift nurses and creating a desirable nursing work environment. Nurses Work Environment Factor analysis Validation study Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Introduction Nursing shortage is a global concern, and new graduate nurses are seen as the most important resource for addressing this shortage [1]. In a 2020 survey of resignations, the overall average resignation rate was 14.2%, and nurses with less than one year of experience had the highest resignation rate of 34.1% [2]. Poor working conditions, such as the nature of shift work, heavy workload, and poor treatment, have been reported to cause turnover among Korean nurses [3] by increasing nurses’ burnout and adversely affecting patient outcomes [4, 5]. On the other hand, a healthy nursing work environment increases nurses’ job satisfaction and performance and promotes high quality nursing care [6-8]. There is an increasing interest in creating a desirable nursing work environment due to its importance for patient safety and quality of care. The term "nursing work environment" not only refers to the place of work, but also includes the physical, psychological, and structural environments, relationships with coworkers, and hospital policies as well as nurses' perceptions of them[9]. Nurses' practices for patients in a safe environment was directly related to the quality of health care [10]. Additionally, a healthy work environment has been empirically associated with patient satisfaction, reduced turnover, increased job favorability and satisfaction, and reduced job stress and burnout [4, 6]. Turnover intention among novice nurses in Korea have been analyzed as a result of work conflicts and stressful work environment [11]. In the United States, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has noted that nurses' work environment plays a crucial role in providing safe and quality patient care and has strongly recommended improving it [12]. It affects both nurses’ and patients’ performance [13], and plays a major role in nurses’ retention and health [14]. Therefore, in addition to improving the nursing work environment, we need to pay attention to improving quality. We reviewed previous studies that assessed the work environments of nurses in Korea. One study used the Korean version of the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI), which was developed for international nurses [15]. There were also instrument that was developed and measured in the Korean cultural context [16] In other studies, instruments have been developed and used to identify the working environment of nurses in specialized areas, such as clinical nurses and intensive care unit nurses, or to identify the organizational culture of nursing [17-19] Most nursing work environment measurement instruments focus on the healthcare organization's systems, organizational culture, leadership of nursing managers, and adequacy of staffing [17-20]. Most of these instruments were developed for nurse managers, experienced nurses, and nurses in specialty units, and none considered the work environment of shift nurses or examined the clinical adjustment of new nurses. They also focused on social relationships and communication, nurse manager leadership, and organizational culture but did not address the environmental factors that promote or threaten health in the physical and psychological domains that nurses experience during their work. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as "a state of physical, psychological, and social integrity and complete freedom from disease and infirmity."[21]. Therefore, there is a need to develop a tool to assess the quality of a healthy work environment for nurses by focusing on the factors that promote or threaten it. In 2001, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) focused on promoting a work environment that fosters excellence in patient care for nurses who provided acute and critical care. In 2005, AACN published the AACN Standards for establishing and maintaining a healthy work environment (HWE). The AACN standards propose six essential elements of a HWE: skilled communication, true collaboration, effective decision-making, meaningful recognition, appropriate staffing, and authentic leadership [20]. The WHO has proposed the following dimensions of health-related quality of life: physical domain, psychological domain, level of independence, social domain, environmental domain, and spiritual domain [22]. The quality of life scales proposed by the WHO are mainly used to evaluate the effectiveness of healthcare, including health status, lifestyle, satisfaction, and well-being [23]. Quality of life refers to an individual's perceived degree of well-being in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns [24]. Therefore, it is appropriate to evaluate how nurses perceive their work environment as healthy. In this study, the AACN's proposed healthy work environment standards and the WHO's health-related quality of life domains were used as a theoretical framework to develop a questionnaire to measure the quality of healthy work environment. This study aimed to develop an instrument to measure the quality of healthy work environment for shift nurses with the following specific goals: developing a healthy work environment quality measure for shift nurses and measuring the reliability and validity of the developed healthy work environment quality measures. Methods 1. Study design This study was a methodological study that develops a healthy work environment quality instrument for shift-working nurses and verifies its reliability and validity. Based on the instrument development procedure presented by DeVellis [25], this study involved the stages of instrument development and evaluation (Figure 1). 2. Research procedure 2-1. Development stage (1) Determine conceptual framework A conceptual framework was constructed based on domestic and international nursing-related work environment measurement tools, standards for healthy work environments, and WHO's health-related quality of life literature review. The conceptual framework of a healthy nursing work environment proposed by the American Association of Critical Nurses (AACN) consists of six standards: skilled communication, true collaboration, effective decision-making, appropriate staffing, meaningful recognition, and authentic leadership [26]. An analysis of instruments to measure expatriate nurse’s work environment [9, 27, 28] found that factors associated with a healthy work environment for nurses include “adequate nursing staffing”, “relationships with coworkers at work”, “leadership from managers”, “autonomy in job functions”, and “training and support for work”. An analysis of instruments developed for nurses in Korea [15, 16, 18] found that common factors related to a healthy work environment include “authentic leadership from managers”, “appropriate staffing”, “adequacy of manpower and resources”, and “interpersonal relationships, including organizational culture”. The nurses' professional quality of life (ProQOL) instrument measured the concepts of “empathy satisfaction”, “empathy fatigue”, and “burnout” [29].In addition, the WHO has defined quality of life as “an individual's perception of the place of his or her life in the context of the culture and value system in which he or she lives, in relation to his or her goals, expectations, standards, and interests [24].” Using the WHO's health-related quality of life scale (WHOQOL), we examined the domains and facets related to the work environment. Accordingly, we identified “comfort and relaxation” and “energy and fatigue” in the physical domain, “positive emotions” and “self-esteem” in the psychological domain, “work capacity” in the independence level, “interpersonal relationships” and “social support” in the social domain, and “physical safety”, “financial support”, and “Opportunities to get involved” in the environmental domain. Based on the review of previous studies, this study organized the conceptual attributes of healthy work environment quality into five factors as follows: physical gratification, psychological stability, independent competency, collaborative relationship, and structural support. The attributes of each concept were organized into the indicators, with a focus on health. Physical gratification is a factor related to the physical needs of nurses experienced due to shift work and can be viewed as basic physiologic needs, such as comfort, rest, energy, fatigue, holiday coverage, and meals [30-32]. Indicators of psychological well-being were viewed as positive self-esteem, rewards, achievements, and sense of belonging as factors related to nurses' positive experiences [33, 34]. Indicators of independent competence were work independence, scope of work, and growth experience as factors related to nurses' capability to do the work given to them during their shifts [35, 36]. Indicators of social relationships included interpersonal relationships, social advocacy, true collaboration, and authentic leadership as factors related to the network of social relationships with coworkers [37, 38]. Indicators of structural support included safety and protection, positive workforce environment, financial support, and administrative support as systemic factors that support nurses' work [39, 40]. The conceptual framework was organized according to the constructs of nurses' healthy work environment and presented in Figure 2. (2) Generate an item pool Preliminary items were developed for each of the five constructs (physical gratification, psychological stability, independent competence, cooperative relationships, and structural support) and indicators based on the conceptual framework. Through a review of domestic and expatriate studies, we extracted items focusing on physical, psychological, and social factors that promote or threaten nurses' health as well as items about nurses' working environment. In addition, face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with ten novice nurses who had been working for two years. The results of the interviews were analyzed to identify the meaning and attributes of the constructs related to the working environment. In the in-depth interviews, the novice nurses' perceptions of a healthy work environment included feeling a sense of belonging to the department, having a support system to ask for help during work, being able to fulfill their ‘one-person role’ as a nurse, and an atmosphere of teamwork and mutual recognition. Based on the results of the literature review and in-depth interviews, 62 preliminary items were developed. The researchers repeatedly reviewed these items with a psychology professor who is an expert in instrument development, to eliminate redundant content and 7 items that reflected the characteristics of the individual subject rather than the work environment and composed a second set of 55 preliminary items. (3) Determine response format The format of measurement in this study was a 5-point Likert scale. The responses to the items were determined as “strongly agree” = 5 points, “agree” = 4 points, “neutral” = 3 points, “disagree” = 2 points, and “strongly disagree” = 1 point. (4) Review of initial item by experts: Content validity Regarding the second preliminary items (55 items), content validity was verified by requesting advice from nursing managers and experienced nurses working in clinical settings. Ten experts participated to verify content validity, including two nursing professors with more than 10 years of clinical experience, five current nursing managers, and three experienced nurses with more than 10 years of experience. The experts were asked to judge the relevance of the preliminary items to the concept being measured and to rate them on a scale of 1 (not at all valid) to 4 (very valid). To select valid items, the item-content validity index (I-CVI) of the preliminary items was calculated, and items with a I-CVI of .80 or higher were selected. Additionally, the experts were asked to provide their opinions regarding the items that needed further revision. Two items with a I-CVI of .80 or less and two items that were judged to have similar meaning were removed. The wording of some items was revised to reflect the experts’ opinions, and one question was added to select 52 items for the third preliminary question. The third set of preliminary items was requested to six experts for secondary content validity. All items’ I-CVI coefficients were found to be above .80, and the wording of 7 items was modified to maintain 52 items. (4) Consideration of validation items: Pilot test To verify face validity, we asked five current nurses to check the language and understanding of the third preliminary questionnaire (52 items). The questionnaire took 4 to 5 minutes to complete, and the understanding of the items were rated as “easy to understand (3 points)” and “very easy to understand (4 points),” indicating that it was generally easy to understand the meaning of the items. 2-2. Evaluation stage (1) Participants of main survey The participants in the main survey were clinical nurses working in general hospitals with more than 300 beds located in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. The inclusion criteria were those who worked third or second shift, understood the purpose of the study, and voluntarily agreed to participate. The exclusion criteria were those working full-time in outpatient and specialty units and those working as physician assistants (PAs). Based on the rationale that the number of participants needed for the study should be five times the number of questions to be developed [41], the goal was 250 participants. (2) Data collection period and methods Data collection for this study was conducted through a face-to-face survey in two general hospitals, after obtaining IRB approval and permission from the nursing department. Two research assistants were selected with the help of the nursing department and preliminary training was provided to them on the purpose of the study and research procedures. The research assistants visited each ward, explained the purpose of the study and how to conduct the study, and obtained written consent from patients who expressed their willingness to participate. Hospital A collected data from August 16 to 31, 2022, from 150 nurses who participated in the survey. Hospital B collected data from September 22 to October 8, 2022, from 100 nurses who participated in the survey. Among the 250 nurses, the data of 3 nurses with less than 6 months of clinical experience were removed, and the data of a total of 247 nurses were analyzed. (3) Research instruments The instrument validation questionnaire consisted of 10 items on general characteristics, 52 items on healthy work environment quality (HWEQ) developed in this study, and 29 items on the K-PES-NWI for validation. The K-PES-NWI was developed by Lake [9] and later adapted by Cho et al. [15] for reliability and validity in Korea. The K-PES-NWI consists of 29 items and five sub-scales (nurse participation in hospital affairs, nursing foundations for quality of care, nurse manager ability, leadership, and support of nurses, staffing and resource adequacy, collegial nurse-physician relations). Responses to the K-PES-NWI items were measured on a 4-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating more positive perceptions of the nursing work environment. The reliability of the instrument is based on Cho et al.’s study [15], whose Cronbach's α was .93, and in this study, it was .92. (4) Evaluate the items Based on the main survey data, item-total correlation coefficient was calculated for all items. Item analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted to verify construct validity. Criterion validity was confirmed by analyzing the correlation between the instrument developed in this study and K-PES-NWI. The Cronbach's α coefficient of the developed instrument was calculated to verify the reliability, and the test-retest reliability was analyzed by surveying 32 nurses four weeks later. 3. Ethical considerations Prior to collecting the main survey data, the Institutional Review Boards of S University (IRB No. SYU 20xx-xx-xxx) and Hospital B (IRB No. SEOUL 20xx-xx-xxx), reviewed the data. For the face-to-face survey, the researcher and a research assistant visited the wards to meet with nurses working in the two general hospitals and explained the study’s purpose, procedures, and about voluntary participation. The informed consent form was presented to the participants explaining that they could stop answering the questionnaire at any time without being penalized for stopping or withdrawing from the study. In addition, the ethical aspects and confidentiality of the participants were explained, and written informed consent was obtained. All participants who completed in the survey were offered a gift certificate. 4. Data analysis and statistical methods The SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 23.0 program (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used for the analysis of the instrument validation phase. The general characteristics of the participants were analyzed using frequency and descriptive statistics. For item analysis, the mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis values were checked for preliminary items, and correlation coefficients between the total score and each item were calculated to remove items with correlation coefficients below .30 [42]. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine the structural relationships among the subfactors according to the conceptual framework of construct validity. The maximum likelihood estimation method was used, because the skewness and kurtosis values of the collected individual items assumed normality. To verify the fit of the model, we examined the χ 2 value and the degrees of freedom ratio, standardized root-mean-square residual (SRMR) using residuals, and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA). We examined the incremental fit index, Turkish-Lewis index (TLI), and the relative fit index, comparative fit index (CFI) [43]. Convergent validity and discriminant validity were checked by examining the correlation coefficient, standard error (SE), construct reliability (CR), and average variance extract (AVE) among the subfactors [44]. Criterion validity was assessed using the K-PES-NWI. Internal consistency was analyzed using Cronbach's ⍺ coefficient, and test-retest reliability was analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient. Results 1. General characteristics The participants of 217 (87.9%) in this study were women. The average age was 27.6 years (±3.41), with 191 (77.3%) in their 20s. The marital status of 221 participants (89.5%) was single, and the highest level of education was a four-year bachelor's degree with 232 (93.9%). No religion accounted for 165 (66.8%), and the years of career was 96 (38.9%) for 3-5 years, 79 (32.0%) for 2 years or less, and 72 (29.1%) for 6 years or more. In terms of department, 126 (51.0%) were in internal medicine wards, 67 (27.1%) in surgical wards, and 54 (21.9%) in special wards (ER, ICU, DR, NR etc.). Health status was moderate with 113 (45.7%), and job satisfaction was moderate with 123 (49.8%). Regarding future work plans, "I want to work as long as necessary" accounted for the majority of 125 (50.6%) (Table 1). Table 1. General Characteristics of the Participants (N=247) Characteristics Categories n (%) Sex Male 30(12.1%) Female 217(87.9%) Age (year) 20∼29 191(77.3%) Over 30 56(22.7%) Marital status Single 221(89.5%) Married 26(10.5%) Education Three-year bachelor's degree 9(3.6%) Four-year bachelor's degree 232(93.9%) Graduate School 6(2.4%) Religion None 165(66.8%) Has 82(33.2%) Career (year) Less 2 79(32.0%) 3∼5 96(38.9%) More 6 72(29.1%) Department Internal medicine wards 126(51.0%) Surgical wards 67(27.1%) Special wards (ER, ICU, DR, NR ect.) 54(21.9% Health status Healthy 107(43.3%) Moderate 113(45.7%) Unhealthy 27(10.9%) Job satisfaction Satisfied 50(20.2%) Moderate 123(49.8%) Dissatisfied 74(30.0%) Future work plans I want to work as long as possible 53(21.5%) I want to work as long as necessary 125(50.6%) I want to quit as soon as possible 45(18.2%) I'm not sure 24(9.7%) ER= Emergency Room; ICU=Intensive Care Unit; DR=Delivery Room; NR=Nursery Room 2. Items analysis For the first evaluation, the mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis values of the 52 preliminary items were reviewed. The mean values of the items ranged from 2.01 to 4.08, with no extremes. The skewness values ranged from -0.72 to 0.78, with an intercept of less than 3. The kurtosis values ranged from -1.03 to 2.03, with an intercept of less than 7. All items met the normality criteria. If the correlation coefficient between the total score and each item was less than .30, the items with low discriminatory power were removed. The correlation coefficient between the total score of healthy work environment and each item ranged from .09 to .59. Among these, eight items (x4, x6, x7, x14, x15, x16, x34, x37) whose item-total correlation coefficient was less than .30 were removed. The reliability of the 52 items was .91, and after removing the eight items, the reliability of the 44 items increased to .92. 3. Verify construct validity For construct validity, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to verify that the items form an appropriate factor structure. The sample adequacy test was conducted to examine whether the collected data had the minimum conditions for conducting factor analysis. In this study, the KMO (Kaiser Meyer Olkin) value was .88, and Bartlett's test of sphericity was also statistically significant (χ 2 =5878.33, p <.001), indicating that the data were suitable for factor analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis is a method to confirm the hypothesis of the relationship between variables by considering the measurement error of the research model based on the theory [45-47]. As a result of checking the fit indices of the initial model, the model fit was inadequate with χ 2 and the ratio of degrees of freedom being 3.41, TLI .59, CFI .62, SRMR .11, and RMSEA .10. Therefore, to improve the fit indices, the research model was modified by removing items with standardized factor coefficients of .40 or less for each item and removing items based on the modification indices (MI) of error correlation [44, 47]. In particular, items with a high MI index between the errors of the measured variable and other latent variables were removed if they were likely to be considered to be highly similar to items in other sub-factors, or if the attributes of the items could change depending on the interpretation of the participants after reviewing the contents of each item. The maximum likelihood estimation method was a technique that utilizes all information, so the factor analysis was performed iteratively by removing items one by one, as modifying one item affects the entire model. First, two items (x26, x27) with standardized factor coefficients below .40 and an item (x47) with a high MI index were removed. Second, items with a standardized factor coefficient of .40 or less (x28) and items with a high MI index (x25, x48, x59) were removed. Third, items with high MI index (x39, x50, x52, x56) were removed. By repeating this process, factor analysis was performed by removing the items with high MI index (x11, x35, x36, x40, x41, x44, x51, x53, x54, x60) one by one. As a result, 21 items were removed, resulting in the final 23 items. For each sub-factor, it consisted of 4 items for factor 1, 4 items for factor 2, 5 items for factor 3, 5 items for factor 4, and 5 items for factor 5. The goodness of fit of the final model was 1.84 with a χ2 value and a ratio of degrees of freedom below 3, and the TLI of .90 and CFI of .91 were above the standard value of .90. SRMR .07 and RMSEA .06 were below the criterion value of .80, and the 90% confidence interval of RMSEA was .05~.07, all below .10, indicating that the fit of the final model was very good (Table 2). Table 2. Model Fit Indices for Healthy Work Environment Quality (N=247) Model χ 2 df p χ 2 / df TLI CFI SRMR RMSEA (90% CI) Initial research model (5-factor correlation) 3039.23 892 <.001 3.41 .59 .62 .11 .10 (.09∼.10) Modified research model (5-factor correlation) 403.53 219 <.001 1.84 .90 .91 .07 .06 (.05∼.07) TLI=Turker-lewis index; CFI=Comparative fit index; SRMR=Standardized root-mean-square residual; RMSEA=Root mean square error of approximation; CI=Confidence interval. The standardized path coefficients (β) for each sub-factor ranged from .48 to .89, as shown in Figure 3. The path coefficients and critical ratios for each item are presented in Table 3. Table 3. Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Healthy Work Environment Quality (N=247) Factors Items B SE β CR p Physical gratification x1. Nurses are guaranteed meal breaks during their shifts. 1.00 .75 x2. Nurses can afford to drink water (beverages) during their shifts. 0.99 0.11 .73 8.87 <.001 x3. Nurses have time to address menstrual issues during their shifts. 0.67 0.10 .53 6.86 <.001 x9. Nurses have free access to rest areas during their shifts. 0.67 0.11 .48 6.21 <.001 Psychological stability x12. Nurses are recognized for their work by their peers/senior nurses. 1.00 .54 x17. Nurses feel a sense of belonging as part of the unit. 1.72 0.22 .79 7.94 <.001 x18. Nurses feel fulfilled by their nursing work. 1.53 0.20 .70 7.49 <.001 x20. Nurses feel rewarded while practicing nursing. 1.15 0.18 .54 6.36 <.001 Independent competency x24. Nurses perform nursing behaviors independently to care for patients. 0.80 .56 x29. Nurses perform mature communication commensurate with their years of experience. 1.00 0.11 .68 7.41 <.001 x30. Nurses can complete their work within their shift. 1.05 0.15 .52 6.90 <.001 x32. Nurses do their part in nursing. 1.10 0.12 .75 9.23 <.001 x33. Nurses experience growth in their job competencies as they progress through their careers. 1.07 0.13 .65 8.37 <.001 Collaborative relationship x42. Senior nurses in my hospital (department) focus on education rather than blame for mistakes. 1.00 .61 x43. Nurses in my hospital (department) work well as a team. 1.31 0.13 .83 10.07 <.001 x45. Nurses in my hospital (department) volunteer to help in the interest of teamwork. 1.47 0.14 .89 10.43 <.001 x46. Nurses in my hospital (department) solve difficult tasks through collaboration. 1.24 0.13 .81 9.91 <.001 x49. Nurse manager respects the decision-making of the nurses. 1.02 0.13 .58 7.77 <.001 Structural support x55. Our hospital (department) has a sufficient number of nurses to provide quality care. 1.00 .75 x57. Our hospital (department) assigns patients with severity levels that match the nurses' competencies. 0.89 0.10 .69 9.60 <.001 x58. Our hospital (department) has enough time for new nurses to adjust to the job. 0.80 0.10 .60 8.62 <.001 x61. Our hospital (department) supports professional counseling services when the nurse needs help. 0.71 0.09 .58 8.19 <.001 x62. Our hospital (department) provides reasonable allowances in addition salary (overtime, night shift, hazardous duty, etc.). 0.94 0.10 .65 9.07 <.001 CR=critical ratio; SE=standard error. Convergent validity and discriminant validity of the sub-factors were confirmed. The AVE values, which are the average of the squared values of the standardized factor loadings, fell below the recommended standard of .50 for four factors except social relationships, but the CR values calculated from the standardized factor loadings and error variance values were above the conservative standard of .70 for all five factors, thus securing convergent validity. The squared values of the correlation coefficients between the sub-factors were all smaller than the AVE values, confirming discriminant validity (Table 4). Table 4. Convergent and Discriminant Validity (N=247) Factors CR AVE MSV Inter-concept correlation r (r 2 ) Factor 1 Factor 2 Factor 3 Factor 4 Factor 1 .72 .40 0.36 Factor 2 .74 .43 0.42 .20(0.04) Factor 3 .77 .41 0.41 .09(0.01) .63(0.40) Factor 4 .87 .57 0.51 .05(0.01) .71(0.51) .34(0.12) Factor 5 .79 .43 0.43 .60(0.36) .39(0.15) .22(0.05) .22(0.05) CR=construct reliability; AVE=average variance extract; MSV=maximum shared squared variance; Factor 1=physical gratification; Factor 2=psychological stability; Factor 3=independent competency; Factor 4=collaborative relationship; Factor 5=structural support. 4. Verify criterion validity The correlation coefficient between the K-PES-NWI and the Healthy Work Environment Quality (HWEQ) instrument developed in this study was .54 (p<.001), indicating a statistically significant positive correlation. When examining the correlations by subscale, the correlation coefficient of factor 1 PES-MWI was .28 (p<.001), factor 2 and PES-MWI was .35 (p<.001), factor 3 and PES-MWI was .11 (p=.081), factor 4 and PES-MWI was .44 (p<.001), and factor 5 and PES-MWI was .51 (p<.001), which were statistically significant except for factor 3 (Table 5). Table 5. Correlation between Healthy Work Environment Quality and K-PES-NWI (N=247) HWEQ Factor 1 Factor 2 Factor 3 Factor 4 Factor 5 M±SD Skewness Kurtosis HWEQ 3.18±.42 -.04 -.19 Factor 1 .56(<.001) 2.45±.73 .25 .05 Factor 2 .74(<.001) .15( .022) 3.43±.58 -.24 .13 Factor 3 .62(<.001) .13( .046) .55(<.001) 3.54±.54 -.11 -.15 Factor 4 .61(<.001) .03( .605) .55(<.001) .28(<.001) 3.73±.59 -.02 .01 Factor 5 .73(<.001) .44(<.001) .32(<.001) .21( .001) .19( .003) 2.66±.77 -.03 -.25 K-PES-NWI .54(<.001) .28(<.001) .35(<.001) .11( .081) .44(<.001) .51(<.001) 2.64±.38 .02 .97 PES-P .42(<.001) .24(<.001) .27(<.001) .02( .796) .36(<.001) .43(<.001) 2.53±.48 -.08 .31 PES-F .50(<.001) .20( .002) .35(<.001) .19( .003) .39(<.001) .46(<.001) 2.88±.39 -.04 .85 PES-M .38(<.001) .11( .086) .33(<.001) .02( .709) .54(<.001) .27(<.001) 2.86±.49 -.41 .75 PES-S .53(<.001) .44(<.001) .22( .001) .12( .057) .23(<.001) .59(<.001) 2.12±.55 .26 .32 PES-R .33(<.001) .15( .019) .21( .001) .19( .003) .31(<.001) .23(<.001) 2.66±.53 -.33 .58 HWEQ=Healthy Work Environment Quality Instrument; Factor 1=physical gratification; Factor 2=psychological stability; Factor 3=independent competency; Factor 4=collaborative relationship; Factor 5=structural support. K-PES-NWI=Korean Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index; PES-P=nurse participation in hospital affairs; PES-F=nursing foundations for quality of care; PES-M=nurse manager ability, leadership, and support of nurses; PES-S=staffing and resource adequacy; PES-R=collegial nurse–physician relations. 5. Verify reliability The overall Cronbach's ⍺ coefficient of the developed in this study was .85. By sub-factor, it was .70 for factor 1, .76 for factor 2, .75 for factor 3, .86 for factor 4, and .79 for factor 5. In addition, when the test-retest reliability was analyzed for 32 nurses at an interval of 4 weeks, the correlation coefficient between the first and second surveys was .73 ( p <.001), which ensured the stability of the instrument. The correlation coefficient of test-retest reliability by sub-factor was .69 ( p <.001) for factor 1, .60 ( p <.001) for factor 2, .48 ( p =.006) for factor 3, .61 ( p <.001) for factor 4, and .66 ( p <.001) for factor 5. 6. Optimization of instrument The HWEQ Instrument for shift nurses was finalized to include 23 items with five factors. The items were scored on a Likert scale ranging from 1 “strongly disagree” to 5 “strongly agree”, and the distribution of scores ranged from a low of 23 to a high of 115. The five factors identified were named as follows based on a conceptual framework that implies the content of the items: 1) Physical gratification (4 items), 2) Psychological stability (4 items), 3) Independent competency (5 items), 4) Collaborative relationship (5 items), and 5) Structural support (5 items). When the total score was calculated, the higher the score, the higher the quality of the nurse's perceived healthy work environment. Discussion This study derived a conceptual framework based on WHO's health-related quality of life attributes and AACN's standards for a healthy nursing work environment, and developed preliminary items to measure the quality of a healthy work environment through a literature review and interviews with shift nurses. The validity of the instrument was verified through confirmatory factor analysis with shift nurses. In the final set of items adopted for this study, the first factor, “physical gratification”, consisted of four items related to meal breaks, time to quench thirst and physiological needs, and free access to rest areas. The results confirmed that nurses’ physical comfort was maintained by ensuring meal breaks, satisfying physiological needs, providing resting areas, and when the intensity of work was appropriately guaranteed to prevent physical strain, which are factors that determine the quality of a healthy work environment. Previous studies have also found that a physical factor contributing to the poor quality of nurses’ work environment is the level of fatigue experienced by nurses, and that increased fatigue is associated with decreased nursing performance [ 48 ]. In addition, unmet physiological needs increased turnover intentions among shift nurses [ 49 , 50 ]. Previous studies on nurses' work environments and AACN's healthy nursing work environment standards did not directly assess physical factors [ 15 , 16 , 18 , 26 ]. This study addresses this gap by developing a questionnaire to measure factors influencing physical health. As nurses are required to work three shifts because of the nature of their work, which requires them to be at the patient’s bedside 24 hours a day, they should not ignore factors in their work environment that affect their physical health. In a survey of nurses' human rights violations in Korea, 31.1% of nurses did not have guaranteed meal breaks and 54.4% of nurses did not have guaranteed rest breaks, and reported working conditions that were detrimental to their physical health [51]. In addition, a qualitative study of shift nurses, they reported that they longed for freedom to take meal breaks during work and were worried about changing jobs because of concerns about their physical health [ 49 ]. Breaks are defined as uninterrupted periods of at least 20 minutes to recover from physical and mental strain, and no work should be performed during these periods [ 52 ]. In the United States, state labor laws require a minimum of 30 minutes for meal breaks [ 53 ]. Several studies have reported nurses’ tendency to miss breaks or stop eating during the workday [ 52 , 54 ] and emphasized the need for breaks during the work [ 55 ]. Despite this, nurses continue to work without access to meals or breaks, and when they do, work is often completed in less than 15 minutes [ 56 ]. These poor working conditions lead to nurses leaving the workplace, which in turn leads to nursing shortage and further aggravating the working conditions, resulting in a vicious cycle. Therefore, to improve the quality of a healthy work environment for nurses, it is important to create a work environment that satisfies their basic physiological needs and promotes physical safety and comfort. The second factor “psychological stability” consisted of four items related to the positive emotions experienced by shift nurses while working in the field. The results confirmed that nurses' perceptions of being recognized by their peers, feeling a sense of belonging, and being rewarded were factors affecting healthy work environment. The AACN's standards for a healthy nursing work environment defines a healthy workplace as one in which nurses receive appropriate recognition for their work and growth under the ‘meaningful recognition’ factor [ 26 ], the results of this study are similar to those of this study. Nurses found recognition from patients, their families, and fellow nurses in the team to be most meaningful, and such recognition was positively associated with increased job satisfaction, decreased turnover intentions, and quality of care [ 20 , 57 ]. In this study, the sense of accomplishment and reward experienced by nurses, not only through their work but also through team and individual recognition, is a factor that promotes their mental health. This is the most unique factor that distinguishes this study from previous studies related to nursing work environment. Previous studies comprised items about positive experiences through the personal behavior of nursing managers [ 16 ]. Another study asked about nurse managers' ability to support nurses in decision-making and provide praise and recognition [ 15 ], which are categorized as the domain of nurse managers [ 15 , 16 ] In this study, we took a difference by confirming that the quality of the healthy work environment can also depend on the personal experiences of nurses, not nurse managers. In other words, the more positive emotional experiences nurses have through their work, the better the quality of a healthy work environment. Therefore, it is necessary for nurses to develop their competencies and experience fulfillment and reward through their work. Additionally, it is necessary to create an organizational culture in which all members, including nursing managers, provide meaningful recognition and encouragement to each other to increase positive emotional experiences. The third factor “independent competency” consisted of five items related to nurses' independence and scope of work. The study found that nurses' capability to complete their assigned tasks on time and do their share of the work, and to experience growth in their nursing competencies over the course of their careers were factors affecting the quality of a healthy work environment. The AACN's healthy work environment standards for nurses identify their participation in the decision-making process of patient care and influence the quality of care as a component of healthy working environment under the factor of “effective decision-making” [ 26 ]. The domestically developed nursing work environment measurement tool comprised items that measured nurses' independent work performance and clarification of work scope [ 16 ] that was an active reflection of nurses' work competence in professional practice areas [ 18 ]. There were items that measured nurses' independent competence. This study partially agrees with the previous studies by focusing on the scope and competence of nurses’ independent work to measure the quality of their healthy work environment. However, independent competence was not significantly correlated with “nurse participation in hospital affairs”, “nurse manager ability, leadership, and support of nurses”, and “staffing and resource adequacy” among the sub-factors of the K-PES-NWI used as validity measures. This suggests that the independent competency items developed in this study are unique items that can assess the quality of a healthy work environment, which has not been assessed by existing measurement instruments. An environment in which nurses can actively practice nursing and experience growth as they progress through their careers is critical to their profession. Nurses’ professional autonomy of nurses means that they are trained based on their professional knowledge and sense of responsibility and perform their nursing duties by making reasonable decisions through good communication [58]. In other words, nurses' professionalism can be exerted in an environment in which their independent competence and growth are guaranteed. Additionally, previous studies have shown that professional autonomy predicts nurses’ job stress and increases job satisfaction [ 59 , 60 ]. Ensuring nurses' autonomy through independent competencies should be considered in order to promote healthy work environment for nurses. Previous studies have shown that nurses' professional autonomy has a significant effect on job satisfaction [ 60 – 62 ] Therefore, establishing clear roles and professional autonomy for nurses are important key indicators of a healthy work environment. To improve the quality of healthy working environment for nurses, there should be continuous support for them to clarify their scope of work and grow their work capacity to ensure independent autonomy in nursing field, including medical institutions. The fourth factor “collaborative relationship” consisted of five items related to the teamwork and the true collaboration that nurses experience on the job. In this study, nurses identified working in a teamwork environment, volunteering to help in teamwork, collaboratively solving difficult tasks, and being respected by nurse managers as factors affecting the quality of a healthy work environment. Among the sub-factors of the K-PES-NWI instrument utilized as a quasi-validity measure, nurse manager ability, leadership, and support of nurse’ showed a high correlation of more than .50. In nursing practice, the concept of collaboration is “an intra- or interprofessional process in which team members respectfully share knowledge and resources to solve patient care or healthcare system problem [ 63 ]”. The “cooperative relationship factor” in this study faithfully reflects this concept of “collaboration”. The evaluation of essential magnetism (EOM), a magnet certification measure for nurse retention in the United States, emphasizes that a healthy work environment is interpersonally oriented [ 28 ]. In addition, AACN's healthy working environment standards suggest pursuing “true collaboration” and having a structured process for such collaboration [ 26 ]. This study also found that interpersonal relationships and teamwork among nurses were determinants of the quality of a healthy work environment, confirming previous research that teamwork and collaboration are fundamental factors in achieving patient care [ 26 , 28 , 37 , 64 ]. On the other hand, while the domestically developed nursing work environment measurement instruments focus on the relationship and cooperation with physicians and the leadership of nursing managers [ 15 , 16 ], this study differed from previous studies by selecting one item, "The nursing manager respects the decision-making of the nurse in charge," as a question about nursing managers. Interprofessional teamwork and cooperation have been identified as effective strategies for healthcare delivery in primary healthcare organizations [ 65 ]. In addition, nurse-physician collaboration and nurse-nurse collaboration have been found to be significantly associated with patient safety outcomes in acute care settings [ 6 , 66 , 67 ]. Effective communication and collaboration have also been shown to increase nurses' job satisfaction, quality of care, and decrease turnover intentions [ 20 ]. Thus, teamwork and collaboration among nurses are crucial for patient safety and providing the best care. To improve the quality of a healthy work environment, regular training and practice must be conducted for nurses to develop their skilled communication skills, and efforts should be made to improve the atmosphere of nursing organizations to foster collaborative teamwork. The fifth factor “structural support” consisted of five items related to the systemic support provided by the healthcare organization. This study found that an adequate number of nurses, assignment of patients according to severity, educational support for new nurses, support for professional counseling services, and reasonable allowances were factors affecting the quality of a healthy work environment. Among the sub-factors of the K-PES-NWI instrument utilized as a quasi-validity measure, “staffing and resource adequacy” showed a high correlation of more than .50. These results are consistent with previous research on administrative and financial support of healthcare organizations, such as "supportive policies"[ 16 ] and "sufficient personnel and material support"[ 15 ]. Previous studies have also shown that sufficient staffing is necessary to create a desirable nursing work environment [ 15 , 16 ] and the need to provide physical resources [ 15 ]. In addition, it was emphasized that staffing that considers patient severity and nurse competence is an essential factor in the nursing work environment [ 18 ]. In a study of the relationship between staffing, work environment, and readmission of surgical patients in the United States, the quality of nurses' work environment and adequacy of staffing were significantly associated with readmission [ 68 ]. The AACN's healthy nursing working environment standards also identify adequate staffing as a key component [ 26 ]. To address work intensity that impairs nurses' health, organizations should strive to ensure adequate staffing. Insufficient nurse staffing levels and excessive workloads have been strongly associated with nurse burnout, which reduces the quality of care delivered to patients and threatens patient safety [ 69 , 70 ] Turnover rates for new nurses continue to rise, with 52.8% of new nurses resigning within one year in 2022 Korea [ 71 ]. Whether new nurses experienced a supportive environment in the first six months determined the success of their adjustment, the more positively new nurses perceived the working environment in the hospital, the lower the transition shock to the new environment [ 72 , 73 ]. This study also confirmed the importance of providing an appropriate period of time for new nurses to adapt to their work and professional counseling services when necessary to create a healthy work environment. As such, structural supports, such as ensuring an adequate number of nurses and appropriate patient assignments according to severity, supporting new nurses to their work, accessing professional counseling services, and reasonable allowances, are essential for the quality of nurses' healthy work environment. To ensure a healthy work environment for nurses, a systematic approach based on an understanding of the complexity of nursing workplaces, and active financial and administrative support should be provided. To develop an instrument to evaluate the quality of a healthy work environment for shift nurses in Korea, this study refined the questionnaire through establishment of content validity by experts, interviews with novice nurses, and evaluation of questionnaire understanding through a preliminary survey. The K-PES-NWI was used as a standardized measurement instrument in related fields, and its content validity, construct validity, and high reliability were reported at the time of development. It is significant that the existing nursing work environment instruments cover organizational culture, staffing, communication, collaboration, and leadership of nursing managers, whereas the instrument developed in this study covers aspects of physical, psychological, and independent factors of nurses. Nevertheless, the correlation between the sub-factors was not significant for factor 1 (physical gratification) or factor 4 (collaborative relationship), limiting its validity. Future research should repeat the study to reconfirm the relevance of physical gratification and collaborative relationships in constructing the categories of the healthy work environment quality construct. In addition, there is a limitation that the conceptual framework did not address the “spiritual domain” among the sub-factors of health-related quality of life proposed by the WHO. We recommend that future research extend the conceptual framework by analyzing the “spiritual domain” as a component of a healthy work environment. Finally, the generalizability of the findings is limited because of the geographically biased sample. Therefore, we recommend a replication study with cross-validation to evaluate the quality of nurses' healthy work environment by expanding this study to various regions and medical institutions. Conclusions The HWEQ Instrument was found to be reliable and valid to quantitatively measure nurses' perceived quality of healthy work environment. The HWEQ consists of 23 items and 5 sub-factors. The HWEQ is measured on a 5-point Likert scale, and a higher total score is interpreted as a nurse's perceived healthy work environment. By measuring the components of physical gratification, psychological stability, independent competence, collaborative relationship, and structural support from the perspective of shift nurses, the HWEQ can assess the quality of a healthy work environment and provide meaningful information about nursing work. Furthermore, by identifying the factors that contribute to health and unhealth in nurses' work environments, it can be used to reduce job stress and prevent premature turnover. By exploring ways to maintain and promote health through the creation of a desirable nursing work environment, we can contribute to the development of policies to improve the quality of life of shift nurses. The academic and practical significance of this research can be summarized as follows. The academic contribution is to develop an instrument that can quantitatively measure the quality of a healthy work environment for nurses and to promote research on healthy work environments to improve the health of nurses. Practical Significance is that it can increase awareness and attention to healthy work environments for nurses in clinical settings. In addition, this instrument can contribute to the improvement of a healthy and desirable working environment for nurses and provide a basis for the development of programs to promote a healthy work environment. Since this instrument was developed based on the Korean cultural background, cross-cultural validity testing is required when applying it in other cultures. We look forward to further research on the quality of nurses' healthy work environment in other cultures. Declarations Acknowledgements Not applicable. Authors’ contributions SHS and EHL made substantial contributions to conception and design and drafting the article. Analysis and interpretation of data were performed by SHS. SHS and EHL read and approved the manuscript. Funding Not applicable. Availability of data and materials The dataset supporting the conclusions is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Ethics approval and consent to participate Ethical approval and consent to participate were obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Sahmyook University (No. SYU 2022-02-014). The clinical nurses were informed about the study and voluntarily decided to participate in the study. The hospital IRB approval was obtained to survey for clinical nurses (IRB No. SEOUL 2022-08-009). Informed consent was obtained from all participants involved in the study. The anonymity and confidentiality of the participants were assured and data were treated as strictly confidential. Nurses who agreed to participate in the study were provided with an informed consent form stating that the data would not be used for any purpose other than the research. All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. Consent for publication Not applicable. Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Author details 1 College of Nursing, Sahmyook University, 815 Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01795, Republic of Korea. 2. Corresponding author* College of Nursing, Sahmyook University, 815 Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01795, Republic of Korea. e-mail: [email protected] References Cheng CY, Liou SR, Tsai HM, Chang CH: Job stress and job satisfaction among new graduate nurses during the first year of employment in T aiwan. Int J Nurs Pract 2015, 21(4):410-418 KoreaNurseAssociation: 2021 Hospital Nursing Staffing Survey. In . : KoreaNurseAssociation; 2021. Hong KJ, Cho S-H: Comparison of nursing workforce supply and employment in South Korea and other OECD countries. Perspectives in Nursing Science 2017, 14(2):55-63 https://doi.org/10.16952/pns.2017.14.2.55 Kim J, Lee TW: The Influence of Nursing Practice Environment, Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction on Burnout among Clinical Nurses Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research 2016, 22(2):109-117 Kwon JO, Kim E-Y: Impact of Unit-level Nurse Practice Environment on Nurse Turnover Intention in the Small and Medium Sized Hospitals. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration 2012, 18(4):414-423 https://doi.org/10.11111/jkana.2012.18.4.414 Copanitsanou P, Fotos N, Brokalaki H: Effects of work environment on patient and nurse outcomes. Br J Nurs 2017, 26(3):172-176 Kang Y-J, Jung K-I: Effects of Emotional Intelligence and Nursing Working Environment on Nursing Performance of Nurses Caring for Cancer Patients in Small and Medium Hospitals: The Mediating Effect of. Asian Oncology Nursing 2019, 19(4):233-241 10.5388/aon.2019.19.4.233 Klopper HC, Coetzee SK, Pretorius R, Bester P: Practice environment, job satisfaction and burnout of critical care nurses in South Africa. Journal of nursing management 2012, 20(5):685-695 Lake ET: Development of the practice environment scale of the nursing work index. Res Nurs Health 2002, 25(3):176-188 Hall LM: Indicators of nurse staffing and quality nursing work environments. In: Quality work environments for nurse and patient safety. edn. Sudbury MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2005: 1-7. Lee SY, Oh EJ, Sung KM: The Experiences of Turnover Intention in Early Stage Nurses. Journal of East-West Nursing Research 2013, 19(2):168-176 https://doi.org/10.14370/jewnr.2013.19.2.168 Fitzpatrick JJ: The future of nursing (our future): leading change, advancing health. Nurs Educ Perspect 2010, 31(6):346 Cho H, Han K: Associations among nursing work environment and health‐promoting behaviors of nurses and nursing performance quality: A multilevel modeling approach. J Nurs Scholarsh 2018, 50(4):403-410 Kim H-S, Kim Y-S, Hong M-H, Kim J-U: Comparison of physical, mental health status and work-related injuries according to the working environment of nurses. Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society 2015, 16(1):527-535 10.5762/KAIS.2015.16.1.527 Cho E, Choi M, Kim E-Y, Yoo IY, Lee N-J: Construct Validity and Reliability of the Korean Version of the Practice Environment Scale of Nursing Work Index for Korean Nurses. J Korean Acad Nurs 2011, 41(3):325-332 http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2011.41.3.325 Park S-H, Kang J: Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Korean Nursing Work Environment Scale. Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing 2015, 8(1):50-61 Ryu MJ, In WY, Cho EH: Development of Korea version of the Practice Environment Scale for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses Jounral of Korean Academy Nurse Administration 2020, 26(2):160-171 http://doi.org/10.11111/jkana.2020.26.2.160 Lee HJ, Moon JH, Kim SR, Shim MY, Kim JY, Lee MA: Development and Validation of a Korean Nursing Work Environment Scale for Critical Care Nurses. Jounal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research 2021, 27(3):279-293 https://doi.org/10.22650/JKCNR.2021.27.3.279 Kim MJ, Kim JK: Development of a Positive Nursing Organizational Culture Measurement Tool. J Korean Acad Nurs 2021, 51(3):305-319 10.4040/jkan.21014 Ulrich B, Barden C, Cassidy L, Varn-Davis N: Critical care nurse work environments 2018: findings and implications. Crit Care Nurse 2019, 39(2):67-84 Callahan D: The WHO definition of'health'. Hastings Center Stud 1973, 1:77-87 WHOQOLGroup: Field trial WHOQOL-100. February 1995: Facet definitions and questions. In: Geneva: WHO (MNH/PSF/951 B). 1995. Min SK, Kim KI, Suh SY, Kim DK: Development of the Korean Version of The World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale(WHOQOL) J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc 2000, 39(1):78-88 WHOQOLGroup: The World Health Organization quality of life assessment (WHOQOL): position paper from the World Health Organization. Soc Sci Med 1995, 41(10):1403-1409 DeVellis RF, Thorpe CT: Scale development: Theory and applications: Sage publications; 2021. AACN: AACN standards for establishing and sustaining healthy work environments: A journey to excellence: Executive summary. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Web site< www aacn org 2016 Aiken LH, Patrician PA: Measuring organizational traits of hospitals: the Revised Nursing Work Index. Nurs Res 2000, 49(3):146-153 Kramer M, Schmalenberg C, Maguire P: Essentials of a magnetic work environment part 4. Nursing2022 2004, 34(9):44-48 Kim J, Choi H: Validation of Korean version of Professional quality of life(K-ProQOL)for nurses through confirmatory factor analysis Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial Cooperation Society 2019, 20(3):243-251 https://doi.org/10.5762/KAIS.2019.20.3.243 Skevington SM, Sartorius N, Amir M, WHOQOL-Group1: Developing methods for assessing quality of life in different cultural settings: The history of the WHOQOL instruments. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2004, 39:1-8 Gholami A, Jahromi LM, Zarei E, Dehghan A: Application of WHOQOL-BREF in measuring quality of life in health-care staff. Int J Prev Med 2013, 4(7):809 Pourvakhshoori N, Norouzi K, Ahmadi F, Hosseini M, Khankeh H: Nurse in limbo: A qualitative study of nursing in disasters in Iranian context. PLoS One 2017, 12(7):e0181314 Kupcewicz E, Jóźwik M: Role of global self-esteem, professional burnout and selected socio-demographic variables in the prediction of polish nurses’ quality of life–A cross-sectional study. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2020:671-684 Lee BS: The relationship of shift work nurse′s positive psychological capital and the quality of life. Seoul: Yonsei University; 2016. Vauhkonen A, Saaranen T, Honkalampi K, Järvelin‐Pasanen S, Kupari S, Tarvainen MP, Perkiö‐Mäkelä M, Räsänen K, Oksanen T: Work community factors, occupational well‐being and work ability in home care: A structural equation modelling. Nursing Open 2021, 8(6):3190-3200 Hallin K, Danielson E: Registered nurses’ experiences of daily work, a balance between strain and stimulation: A qualitative study. Int J Nurs Stud 2007, 44(7):1221-1230 Wei H, Sewell KA, Woody G, Rose MA: The state of the science of nurse work environments in the United States: A systematic review. International journal of nursing sciences 2018, 5(3):287-300 Scruth EA, Garcia S, Buchner L: Work life quality, healthy work environments, and nurse retention. Clin Nurse Spec 2018, 32(3):111-113 yang Ditanggapi PKP: Authentic leadership and psychological well-being at the workplace: exploring the mediating role of perceived job security. Jurnal Pengurusan 2021, 63:115-125 Inductivo AMC, Villanueva JCV: Nurses’ Opinion on Protection of Nurses’ Rights. Journal of Nurses Voice and Impact , 1(2) Hair JF, Anderson RE, Babin BJ, Black WC: Multivariate data analysis: A global perspective (Vol. 7). In . : Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson; 2010: 111-113. Kim CT: Misuse of Exploratory Factor Analysis and Its Remedies. Survey Research 2016, 17(1):1-29 Hong SH: Criteria for Selecting Appropriate Fit Indices in Structural Equation Modeling and Their Rationales. Korean Journal of Clinical Psychology 2000, 19(1):161-177 Lee H, Lim J: Structural equation modeling with AMOS 20.0. Seoul: JipHyunJae Publishing Co.; 2013. Kang H: A Guide on the Use of Factor Analysis in the Assessment of Construct Validity. J Korean Acad Nurs 2013, 43(5):587-594 https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2013.43.5.587 Park I, Eom H, Lee G: Issues and Concurrent Solutions for the Application of Confirmatory Factor Analysis in Physical Education and Exercise Science Research. The Korean Journal of Measurement and Evaluation in Physical Education and Sport Science 2014, 16(1):1-22 Woo JP: Concepts and Understanding Structural Equation Models. Seoul: Hannarae Publishing; 2013. Barker LM, Nussbaum MA: Fatigue, performance and the work environment: a survey of registered nurses. Journal of advanced nursing 2011, 67(6):1370-1382 Kim SJ, Kim WJ: A phenomenological convergence study on the mealtime experience of shift nurses on duty. Journal of the Korea Convergence Society 2019, 10(1):307-316 https://doi.org/10.15207/JKCS.2019.10.1.307 Shin S-H, Baek O-J, Lee E-H: Effects of Nursing Work Environment, Need Satisfaction, and Depression on Turnover Intention in Korea. In: Healthcare: 2023 : MDPI; 2023: 1698. Korean Nurse Association [Internet]. Nurse human rights violations and improvement plan [http://www.koreanurse.or.kr/board/board_read.php?board_id=policy&member_id=admin&exec=&no=92&category_no=&step=0&tag=&sgroup=77&sfloat=&position=0&mode=&find=stitle&search] Wendsche J, Ghadiri A, Bengsch A, Wegge J: Antecedents and outcomes of nurses’ rest break organization: A scoping review. Int J Nurs Stud 2017, 75:65-80 Hurtado DA, Nelson CC, Hashimoto D, Sorensen G: Supervisors’ support for nurses’ meal breaks and mental health. Workplace Health Saf 2015, 63(3):107-115 Bae S-H, Hwang S-W, Lee G: Work hours, overtime, and break time of registered nurses working in medium-sized Korean hospitals. Workplace Health Saf 2018, 66(12):588-596 Hunter EM, Wu C: Give me a better break: Choosing workday break activities to maximize resource recovery. J Appl Psychol 2016, 101(2):302 Trinkoff AM, Le R, Geiger‐Brown J, Lipscomb J, Lang G: Longitudinal relationship of work hours, mandatory overtime, and on‐call to musculoskeletal problems in nurses. Am J Ind Med 2006, 49(11):964-971 Kelly LA, Lefton C: Effect of meaningful recognition on critical care nurses’ compassion fatigue. Am J Crit Care 2017, 26(6):438-444 Park S, Jo D: Conceptual Analysis of Professional Autonomy of Nurses. Health & Nursing 2022, 34(2):41-50 https://doi.org/10.29402/HN34.2.5 Asl RG, Taghinejad R, Parizad N, Jasemi M: The relationship between professional autonomy and job stress among intensive care unit nurses: A descriptive correlational study. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res 2022, 27(2):119 Labrague LJ, McEnroe‐Petitte DM, Tsaras K: Predictors and outcomes of nurse professional autonomy: A cross‐sectional study. Int J Nurs Pract 2019, 25(1):e12711 Lee SJ: The role ambiguity, role conflict, and professional autonomy of nurses in oncology care units Impact on job satisfaction Seoul: Yonsei University; 2020. Penconek T, Tate K, Bernardes A, Lee S, Micaroni SP, Balsanelli AP, de Moura AA, Cummings GG: Determinants of nurse manager job satisfaction: A systematic review. Int J Nurs Stud 2021, 118:103906 Emich C: Conceptualizing collaboration in nursing. In: Nurs Forum: 2018 : Wiley Online Library; 2018: 567-573. Yun S, Kang J, Lee Y-O, Yi Y: Work environment and workplace bullying among Korean intensive care unit nurses. Asian Nurs Res (Korean Soc Nurs Sci) 2014, 8(3):219-225 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anr.2014.07.002 Sangaleti C, Schveitzer MC, Peduzzi M, Zoboli ELCP, Soares CB: Experiences and shared meaning of teamwork and interprofessional collaboration among health care professionals in primary health care settings: a systematic review. JBI Evidence Synthesis 2017, 15(11):2723-2788 Ma C, Park SH, Shang J: Inter-and intra-disciplinary collaboration and patient safety outcomes in US acute care hospital units: A cross-sectional study. Int J Nurs Stud 2018, 85:1-6 Rezaei S, Roshangar F, Rahmani A, Tabrizi F, Sarbakhsh P, Parvan K: Emergency nurses' attitudes toward interprofessional collaboration and teamwork and their affecting factors: A cross-sectional study. Nursing and Midwifery Studies 2021, 10(3):173-173 Ma C, McHugh MD, Aiken LH: Organization of hospital nursing and 30-day readmissions in Medicare patients undergoing surgery. Med Care 2015, 53(1):65 Dall’Ora C, Ball J, Reinius M, Griffiths P: Burnout in nursing: a theoretical review. Human resources for health 2020, 18:1-17 Galletta M, Portoghese I, Ciuffi M, Sancassiani F, D'Aloja E, Campagna M: Working and environmental factors on job burnout: a cross-sectional study among nurses. Clinical practice and epidemiology in mental health: CP & EMH 2016, 12:132 HospitalNursingAssociations: 2022 Hospital Nursing Staffing Survey. In . ; 2023. Moon KJ, Cho MY: Factors influencing the transition shock of newly-graduated nurses. Journal of Korean Academic Society Nursing Education 2022, 28(2):156-166 https://doi.org/10.5977/jkasne.2022.28.2.156 Cao X, Li J, Gong S: Effects of resilience, social support, and work environment on turnover intention in newly graduated nurses: The mediating role of transition shock. Journal of nursing management 2021, 29(8):2585-2593 Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 12 Jan, 2024 Read the published version in BMC Nursing → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 02 Nov, 2023 Editor assigned by journal 02 Nov, 2023 Submission checks completed at journal 02 Nov, 2023 First submitted to journal 01 Nov, 2023 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-3536578","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":245099356,"identity":"e3f9944f-7cd1-460f-8cde-74345ff62642","order_by":0,"name":"Sunhwa Shin","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Sahmyook University","correspondingAuthor":false,"submittingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sunhwa","middleName":"","lastName":"Shin","suffix":""},{"id":245099358,"identity":"4316917d-276f-4ff0-819a-6fc8d213fb37","order_by":1,"name":"Eun-Hye Lee","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAtUlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACPiBmZqiAcQ8QoYUNrOUMyVoY20jSwt588HHhvLrEDQeYH35gOHOPCC08x5KNZ247DNTCZizBcKOYCC0SOWbSvNsOALUwmDEwfEggQov8+++/eeeAHMb+jUgtEjxszLwNzEAtPEBbbhCjhSfNWJrn2GHjmYd5iiUSzhChhZ/98MPPPDV1sn3H2zd++HCMCC0w4NjADCRJ0MDAYE+K4lEwCkbBKBhhAAAxADcNASVOswAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Sahmyook University","correspondingAuthor":true,"submittingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Eun-Hye","middleName":"","lastName":"Lee","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2023-11-01 15:44:20","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3536578/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3536578/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-023-01672-4","type":"published","date":"2024-01-12T15:00:39+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":45834932,"identity":"ca77a5ef-1ba1-4a7d-988c-26bfe7608e82","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2023-11-03 20:20:28","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":45723,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSteps of healthy work environment quality instrument development\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eK-PES-NWI=Korean Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3536578/v1/68c74dd27e19b1c2cc2138d6.png"},{"id":45834933,"identity":"a1c5c154-a1e0-4deb-9572-ef7c9f5a73b0","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2023-11-03 20:20:28","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":38823,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eConceptual framework of healthy work environment quality\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3536578/v1/f6c16dba41675fd7332b381e.png"},{"id":45834931,"identity":"b81af923-8f9c-40e3-98f1-eafce241045b","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2023-11-03 20:20:28","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":5713,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eThis image is not available with this version.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Fig3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3536578/v1/da70a13136df015c7c49298d.png"},{"id":49628517,"identity":"73727d5e-ff71-4be0-b3b7-593d0a158d19","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-01-15 15:06:59","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":342456,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3536578/v1/e60925b8-6c59-4d00-88e3-d424b91376ba.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Development and validation of a healthy work environment quality instrument","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eNursing shortage is a global concern, and new graduate nurses are seen as the most important resource for addressing this shortage\u0026nbsp;[1]. In a 2020 survey of resignations, the overall average resignation rate was 14.2%, and nurses with less than one year of experience had the highest resignation rate of 34.1%\u0026nbsp;[2]. Poor working conditions, such as the nature of shift work, heavy workload, and poor treatment, have been reported to cause turnover among Korean nurses\u0026nbsp;[3]\u0026nbsp;by increasing nurses\u0026rsquo; burnout and\u0026nbsp;adversely affecting patient outcomes\u0026nbsp;[4, 5]. On the other hand, a healthy nursing work environment increases nurses\u0026rsquo; job satisfaction and performance and promotes high quality nursing care\u0026nbsp;[6-8].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;There is an increasing interest in creating a desirable nursing work environment due to its importance for patient safety and quality of care. The term \u0026quot;nursing work environment\u0026quot; not only refers to the place of work, but also includes the physical, psychological, and structural environments, relationships with coworkers, and hospital policies as well as nurses\u0026apos; perceptions of them[9]. Nurses\u0026apos; practices for patients in a safe environment was directly related to the quality of health care\u0026nbsp;[10]. Additionally, a healthy work environment has been empirically associated with patient satisfaction, reduced turnover, increased job favorability and satisfaction, and reduced job stress and burnout\u0026nbsp;[4, 6]. Turnover intention among novice nurses in Korea have been analyzed as a result of work conflicts and stressful work environment\u0026nbsp;[11]. In the United States, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has noted that nurses\u0026apos; work environment plays a crucial role in providing safe and quality patient care and has strongly recommended improving it\u0026nbsp;[12]. It affects both nurses\u0026rsquo; and patients\u0026rsquo; performance\u0026nbsp;[13], and plays a major role in nurses\u0026rsquo; retention and health\u0026nbsp;[14]. Therefore, in addition to improving the nursing work environment, we need to pay attention to improving quality.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe reviewed previous studies that assessed the work environments of nurses in Korea. One study used the Korean version of the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI), which was developed for international nurses\u0026nbsp;[15]. There were also instrument that was developed and measured in the Korean cultural context\u0026nbsp;[16]\u0026nbsp;In other studies, instruments have been developed and used to identify the working environment of nurses in specialized areas, such as clinical nurses and intensive care unit nurses, or to identify the organizational culture of nursing\u0026nbsp;[17-19]\u0026nbsp;Most nursing work environment measurement instruments focus on the healthcare organization\u0026apos;s systems, organizational culture, leadership of nursing managers, and adequacy of staffing\u0026nbsp;[17-20]. Most of these instruments were developed for nurse managers, experienced nurses, and nurses in specialty units, and none considered the work environment of shift nurses or examined the clinical adjustment of new nurses. They also focused on social relationships and communication, nurse manager leadership, and organizational culture but did not address the environmental factors that promote or threaten health in the physical and psychological domains that nurses experience during their work. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as \u0026quot;a state of physical, psychological, and social integrity and complete freedom from disease and infirmity.\u0026quot;[21]. Therefore, there is a need to develop a tool to assess the quality of a healthy work environment for nurses by focusing on the factors that promote or threaten it.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2001, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) focused on promoting a work environment that fosters excellence in patient care for nurses who provided acute and critical care. In 2005, AACN published the AACN Standards for establishing and maintaining a healthy work environment (HWE). The AACN standards propose six essential elements of a HWE: skilled communication, true collaboration, effective decision-making, meaningful recognition, appropriate staffing, and authentic leadership\u0026nbsp;[20]. \u0026nbsp;The WHO has proposed the following dimensions of health-related quality of life: physical domain, psychological domain, level of independence, social domain, environmental domain, and spiritual domain\u0026nbsp;[22]. The quality of life scales proposed by the WHO are mainly used to evaluate the effectiveness of healthcare, including health status, lifestyle, satisfaction, and well-being\u0026nbsp;[23]. Quality of life refers to an individual\u0026apos;s perceived degree of well-being in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns\u0026nbsp;[24]. Therefore, it is appropriate to evaluate how nurses perceive their work environment as healthy. In this study, the AACN\u0026apos;s proposed healthy work environment standards and the WHO\u0026apos;s health-related quality of life domains were used as a theoretical framework to develop a questionnaire to measure the quality of healthy work environment.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study aimed to develop an instrument to measure the quality of healthy work environment for shift nurses with the following specific goals: developing a healthy work environment quality measure for shift nurses and measuring the reliability and validity of the developed healthy work environment quality measures.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003e1. Study design\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study was a methodological study that develops a healthy work environment quality instrument for shift-working nurses and verifies its reliability and validity. Based on the instrument development procedure presented by DeVellis [25], this study involved the stages of instrument development and evaluation (Figure 1).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. Research procedure\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2-1. Development stage\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(1) Determine conceptual framework\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA conceptual framework was constructed based on domestic and international nursing-related work environment measurement tools, standards for healthy work environments, and WHO's health-related quality of life literature review. The conceptual framework of a healthy nursing work environment proposed by the American Association of Critical Nurses (AACN) consists of six standards: skilled communication, true collaboration, effective decision-making, appropriate staffing, meaningful recognition, and authentic leadership\u0026nbsp;[26]. An analysis of instruments to measure expatriate nurse’s work environment\u0026nbsp;[9, 27, 28]\u0026nbsp;found that factors associated with a healthy work environment for nurses include “adequate nursing staffing”, “relationships with coworkers at work”, “leadership from managers”, “autonomy in job functions”, and “training and support for work”. An analysis of instruments developed for nurses in Korea\u0026nbsp;[15, 16, 18]\u0026nbsp;found that common factors related to a healthy work environment include “authentic leadership from managers”, “appropriate staffing”, \u0026nbsp;“adequacy of manpower and resources”, and “interpersonal relationships, including organizational culture”. The nurses' professional quality of life (ProQOL) instrument measured the concepts of \u0026nbsp;“empathy satisfaction”, “empathy fatigue”, and “burnout”\u0026nbsp;[29].In addition, the WHO has defined quality of life as “an individual's perception of the place of his or her life in the context of the culture and value system in which he or she lives, in relation to his or her goals, expectations, standards, and interests\u0026nbsp;[24].” \u0026nbsp;Using the WHO's health-related quality of life scale (WHOQOL), we examined the domains and facets related to the work environment. Accordingly, we identified “comfort and relaxation” and “energy and fatigue” in the physical domain, “positive emotions” and “self-esteem” in the psychological domain, “work capacity” in the independence level, “interpersonal relationships” and “social support” in the social domain, and “physical safety”, “financial support”, and “Opportunities to get involved” in the environmental domain.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased on the review of previous studies, this study organized the conceptual attributes of healthy work environment quality into five factors as follows: physical gratification, psychological stability, independent competency, collaborative relationship, and structural support. The attributes of each concept were organized into the indicators, with a focus on health. Physical gratification is a factor related to the physical needs of nurses experienced due to shift work and can be viewed as basic physiologic needs, such as comfort, rest, energy, fatigue, holiday coverage, and meals [30-32]. Indicators of psychological well-being were viewed as positive self-esteem, rewards, achievements, and sense of belonging as factors related to nurses' positive experiences [33, 34]. Indicators of independent competence were work independence, scope of work, and growth experience as factors related to nurses' capability to do the work given to them during their shifts [35, 36]. Indicators of social relationships included interpersonal relationships, social advocacy, true collaboration, and authentic leadership as factors related to the network of social relationships with coworkers [37, 38]. Indicators of structural support included safety and protection, positive workforce environment, financial support, and administrative support as systemic factors that support nurses' work [39, 40]. The conceptual framework was organized according to the constructs of nurses' healthy work environment and presented in Figure 2.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;(2) Generate an item pool\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePreliminary items were developed for each of the five constructs (physical gratification, psychological stability, independent competence, cooperative relationships, and structural support) and indicators based on the conceptual framework. Through a review of domestic and expatriate studies, we extracted items focusing on physical, psychological, and social factors that promote or threaten nurses' health as well as items about nurses' working environment. In addition, face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with ten novice nurses who had been working for two years. The results of the interviews were analyzed to identify the meaning and attributes of the constructs related to the working environment. In the in-depth interviews, the novice nurses' perceptions of a healthy work environment included feeling a sense of belonging to the department, having a support system to ask for help during work, being able to fulfill their ‘one-person role’ as a nurse, and an atmosphere of teamwork and mutual recognition. Based on the results of the literature review and in-depth interviews, 62 preliminary items were developed. The researchers repeatedly reviewed these items with a psychology professor who is an expert in instrument development, to eliminate redundant content and 7 items that reflected the characteristics of the individual subject rather than the work environment and composed a second set of 55 preliminary items.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(3) Determine response format\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe format of measurement in this study was a 5-point Likert scale. The responses to the items were determined as “strongly agree” = 5 points, “agree” = 4 points, “neutral” = 3 points, “disagree” = 2 points, and “strongly disagree” = 1 point.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(4) Review of initial item by experts: Content validity\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;Regarding the second preliminary items (55 items), content validity was verified by requesting advice from nursing managers and experienced nurses working in clinical settings. Ten experts participated to verify content validity, including two nursing professors with more than 10 years of clinical experience, five current nursing managers, and three experienced nurses with more than 10 years of experience. The experts were asked to judge the relevance of the preliminary items to the concept being measured and to rate them on a scale of 1 (not at all valid) to 4 (very valid). To select valid items, the item-content validity index (I-CVI) of the preliminary items was calculated, and items with a I-CVI of .80 or higher were selected. Additionally, the experts were asked to provide their opinions regarding the items that needed further revision. Two items with a I-CVI of .80 or less and two items that were judged to have similar meaning were removed. The wording of some items was revised to reflect the experts’ opinions, and one question was added to select 52 items for the third preliminary question. The third set of preliminary items was requested to six experts for secondary content validity. All items’ I-CVI coefficients were found to be above .80, and the wording of 7 items was modified to maintain 52 items.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(4) Consideration of validation items: Pilot test\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo verify face validity, we asked five current nurses to check the language and understanding of the third preliminary questionnaire (52 items). The questionnaire took 4 to 5 minutes to complete, and the understanding of the items were rated as “easy to understand (3 points)” and “very easy to understand (4 points),” indicating that it was generally easy to understand the meaning of the items.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2-2. Evaluation stage\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(1)\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Participants of main survey\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe participants in the main survey were clinical nurses working in general hospitals with more than 300 beds located in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. The inclusion criteria were those who worked third or second shift, understood the purpose of the study, and voluntarily agreed to participate. The exclusion criteria were those working full-time in outpatient and specialty units and those working as physician assistants (PAs). Based on the rationale that the number of participants needed for the study should be five times the number of questions to be developed\u0026nbsp;[41], the goal was 250 participants.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(2) Data collection period and methods\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eData collection for this study was conducted through a face-to-face survey in two general hospitals, after obtaining IRB approval and permission from the nursing department. Two research assistants were selected with the help of the nursing department and preliminary training was provided to them on the purpose of the study and research procedures. The research assistants visited each ward, explained the purpose of the study and how to conduct the study, and obtained written consent from patients who expressed their willingness to participate. Hospital A collected data from August 16 to 31, 2022, from 150 nurses who participated in the survey. Hospital B collected data from September 22 to October 8, 2022, from 100 nurses who participated in the survey. Among the 250 nurses, the data of 3 nurses with less than 6 months of clinical experience were removed, and the data of a total of 247 nurses were analyzed.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(3) Research instruments\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe instrument validation questionnaire consisted of 10 items on general characteristics, 52 items on healthy work environment quality (HWEQ) developed in this study, and 29 items on the K-PES-NWI for validation. The K-PES-NWI was developed by Lake\u0026nbsp;[9]\u0026nbsp;and later adapted by Cho et al.\u0026nbsp;[15]\u0026nbsp;for reliability and validity in Korea. The K-PES-NWI consists of 29 items and five sub-scales (nurse participation in hospital affairs, nursing foundations for quality of care, nurse manager ability, leadership, and support of nurses, staffing and resource adequacy, collegial nurse-physician relations). Responses to the K-PES-NWI items were measured on a 4-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating more positive perceptions of the nursing work environment. The reliability of the instrument is based on Cho et al.’s study\u0026nbsp;[15], whose Cronbach's α was .93, and in this study, it was .92.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(4) Evaluate the items\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased on the main survey data, item-total correlation coefficient was calculated for all items. Item analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted to verify construct validity. Criterion validity was confirmed by analyzing the correlation between the instrument developed in this study and K-PES-NWI. The Cronbach's α coefficient of the developed instrument was calculated to verify the reliability, and the test-retest reliability was analyzed by surveying 32 nurses four weeks later.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. Ethical considerations\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrior to collecting the main survey data, the Institutional Review Boards of S University (IRB No. SYU 20xx-xx-xxx) and Hospital B (IRB No. SEOUL 20xx-xx-xxx), reviewed the data. For the face-to-face survey, the researcher and a research assistant visited the wards to meet with nurses working in the two general hospitals and explained the study’s purpose, procedures, and about voluntary participation. The informed consent form was presented to the participants explaining that they could stop answering the questionnaire at any time without being penalized for stopping or withdrawing from the study. In addition, the ethical aspects and confidentiality of the participants were explained, and written informed consent was obtained. All participants who completed in the survey were offered a gift certificate.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. Data analysis and statistical methods\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 23.0 program (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used for the analysis of the instrument validation phase. The general characteristics of the participants were analyzed using frequency and descriptive statistics. For item analysis, the mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis values were checked for preliminary items, and correlation coefficients between the total score and each item were calculated to remove items with correlation coefficients below .30\u0026nbsp;[42]. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine the structural relationships among the subfactors according to the conceptual framework of construct validity. The maximum likelihood estimation method was used, because the skewness and kurtosis values of the collected individual items assumed normality. To verify the fit of the model, we examined the χ\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e value and the degrees of freedom ratio, standardized root-mean-square residual (SRMR) using residuals, and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA). We examined the incremental fit index, Turkish-Lewis index (TLI), and the relative fit index, comparative fit index (CFI) [43]. Convergent validity and discriminant validity were checked by examining the correlation coefficient, standard error (SE), construct reliability (CR), and average variance extract (AVE) among the subfactors [44]. Criterion validity was assessed using the K-PES-NWI. Internal consistency was analyzed using Cronbach's ⍺ coefficient, and test-retest reliability was analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003e1. General characteristics\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe participants of 217 (87.9%) in this study were women. The average age was 27.6 years (\u0026plusmn;3.41), with 191 (77.3%) in their 20s. The marital status of 221 participants (89.5%) was single, and the highest level of education was a four-year bachelor\u0026apos;s degree with 232 (93.9%). No religion accounted for 165 (66.8%), and the years of career was 96 (38.9%) for 3-5 years, 79 (32.0%) for 2 years or less, and 72 (29.1%) for 6 years or more. In terms of department, 126 (51.0%) were in internal medicine wards, 67 (27.1%) in surgical wards, and 54 (21.9%) in special wards (ER, ICU, DR, NR etc.). Health status was moderate with 113 (45.7%), and job satisfaction was moderate with 123 (49.8%). Regarding future work plans, \u0026quot;I want to work as long as necessary\u0026quot; accounted for the majority of 125 (50.6%) (Table 1). \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 1. General Characteristics of the Participants (N=247)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" style=\"margin-right: calc(45%); width: 55%;\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"27.18808193668529%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCharacteristics\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"54.74860335195531%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCategories\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"18.063314711359403%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003en (%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"27.18808193668529%\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSex\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"54.74860335195531%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"18.063314711359403%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e30(12.1%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"75.1918158567775%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"24.808184143222505%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e217(87.9%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"27.18808193668529%\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAge (year)\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"54.74860335195531%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20\u0026sim;29\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"18.063314711359403%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e191(77.3%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"75.1918158567775%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOver 30\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"24.808184143222505%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e56(22.7%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"27.18808193668529%\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMarital status\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"54.74860335195531%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSingle\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"18.063314711359403%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e221(89.5%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"75.1918158567775%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMarried\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"24.808184143222505%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26(10.5%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"27.18808193668529%\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eEducation\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"54.74860335195531%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eThree-year bachelor\u0026apos;s degree\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"18.063314711359403%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9(3.6%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"75.1918158567775%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFour-year bachelor\u0026apos;s degree\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"24.808184143222505%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e232(93.9%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"75.1918158567775%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eGraduate School\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"24.808184143222505%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6(2.4%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"27.18808193668529%\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eReligion\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"54.74860335195531%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNone\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"18.063314711359403%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e165(66.8%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"75.1918158567775%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eHas\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"24.808184143222505%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e82(33.2%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"27.18808193668529%\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCareer (year)\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"54.74860335195531%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLess 2\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"18.063314711359403%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e79(32.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"75.1918158567775%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u0026sim;5\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"24.808184143222505%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e96(38.9%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"75.1918158567775%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMore 6\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"24.808184143222505%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e72(29.1%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"27.18808193668529%\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDepartment\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"54.74860335195531%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eInternal medicine wards\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"18.063314711359403%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e126(51.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"75.1918158567775%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSurgical wards\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"24.808184143222505%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e67(27.1%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"75.1918158567775%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSpecial wards (ER, ICU, DR, NR ect.)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"24.808184143222505%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e54(21.9%\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"27.18808193668529%\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eHealth status\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"54.74860335195531%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eHealthy\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"18.063314711359403%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e107(43.3%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"75.1918158567775%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eModerate\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"24.808184143222505%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e113(45.7%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"75.1918158567775%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eUnhealthy\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"24.808184143222505%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e27(10.9%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"27.18808193668529%\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eJob satisfaction\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"54.74860335195531%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSatisfied\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"18.063314711359403%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e50(20.2%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"75.1918158567775%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eModerate\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"24.808184143222505%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e123(49.8%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"75.1918158567775%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDissatisfied\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"24.808184143222505%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e74(30.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"27.18808193668529%\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFuture work plans\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"54.74860335195531%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eI want to work as long as possible\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"18.063314711359403%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e53(21.5%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"75.1918158567775%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eI want to work as long as necessary\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"24.808184143222505%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e125(50.6%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"75.1918158567775%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eI want to quit as soon as possible\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"24.808184143222505%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e45(18.2%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"75.1918158567775%\" style=\"width: 29.8323%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eI\u0026apos;m not sure\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"24.808184143222505%\" style=\"width: 44.5267%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24(9.7%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eER= Emergency Room; ICU=Intensive Care Unit; DR=Delivery Room; NR=Nursery Room\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. Items analysis\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the first evaluation, the mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis values of the 52 preliminary items were reviewed. The mean values of the items ranged from 2.01 to 4.08, with no extremes. The skewness values ranged from -0.72 to 0.78, with an intercept of less than 3. The kurtosis values ranged from -1.03 to 2.03, with an intercept of less than 7. All items met the normality criteria.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf the correlation coefficient between the total score and each item was less than .30, the items with low discriminatory power were removed. The correlation coefficient between the total score of healthy work environment and each item ranged from .09 to .59. Among these, eight items (x4, x6, x7, x14, x15, x16, x34, x37) whose item-total correlation coefficient was less than .30 were removed. The reliability of the 52 items was .91, and after removing the eight items, the reliability of the 44 items increased to .92.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. Verify construct validity\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor construct validity, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to verify that the items form an appropriate factor structure. The sample adequacy test was conducted to examine whether the collected data had the minimum conditions for conducting factor analysis. In this study, the KMO (Kaiser Meyer Olkin) value was .88, and Bartlett\u0026apos;s test of sphericity was also statistically significant (\u0026chi;\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e =5878.33, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026lt;.001), indicating that the data were suitable for factor analysis.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConfirmatory factor analysis is a method to confirm the hypothesis of the relationship between variables by considering the measurement error of the research model based on the theory\u0026nbsp;[45-47]. As a result of checking the fit indices of the initial model, the model fit was inadequate with \u0026chi;\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e and the ratio of degrees of freedom being 3.41, TLI .59, CFI .62, SRMR .11, and RMSEA .10. Therefore, to improve the fit indices, the research model was modified by removing items with standardized factor coefficients of .40 or less for each item and removing items based on the modification indices (MI) of error correlation\u0026nbsp;[44, 47]. In particular, items with a high MI index between the errors of the measured variable and other latent variables were removed if they were likely to be considered to be highly similar to items in other sub-factors, or if the attributes of the items could change depending on the interpretation of the participants after reviewing the contents of each item. The maximum likelihood estimation method was a technique that utilizes all information, so the factor analysis was performed iteratively by removing items one by one, as modifying one item affects the entire model.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst, two items (x26, x27) with standardized factor coefficients below .40 and an item (x47) with a high MI index were removed. Second, items with a standardized factor coefficient of .40 or less (x28) and items with a high MI index (x25, x48, x59) were removed. Third, items with high MI index (x39, x50, x52, x56) were removed. By repeating this process, factor analysis was performed by removing the items with high MI index (x11, x35, x36, x40, x41, x44, x51, x53, x54, x60) one by one. As a result, 21 items were removed, resulting in the final 23 items. For each sub-factor, it consisted of 4 items for factor 1, 4 items for factor 2, 5 items for factor 3, 5 items for factor 4, and 5 items for factor 5.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe goodness of fit of the final model was 1.84 with a \u0026chi;2 value and a ratio of degrees of freedom below 3, and the TLI of .90 and CFI of .91 were above the standard value of .90. SRMR .07 and RMSEA .06 were below the criterion value of .80, and the 90% confidence interval of RMSEA was .05~.07, all below .10, indicating that the fit of the final model was very good (Table 2).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 2. Model Fit Indices for Healthy Work Environment Quality (N=247)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"26.622296173044926%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eModel\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.983361064891847%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026chi;\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.988352745424293%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003edf\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.487520798668885%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.153078202995008%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026chi;\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e/\u003cem\u003edf\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.153078202995008%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTLI\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.153078202995008%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCFI\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.983361064891847%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSRMR\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.475873544093178%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eRMSEA\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e(90% CI)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"26.622296173044926%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eInitial research model\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e(5-factor correlation)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.983361064891847%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3039.23\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.988352745424293%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e892\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.487520798668885%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.153078202995008%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3.41\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.153078202995008%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.59\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.153078202995008%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.62\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.983361064891847%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.475873544093178%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e(.09\u0026sim;.10)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"26.622296173044926%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eModified research model\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e(5-factor correlation)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.983361064891847%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e403.53\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.988352745424293%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e219\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.487520798668885%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.153078202995008%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.84\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.153078202995008%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.90\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.153078202995008%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.91\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.983361064891847%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.07\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.475873544093178%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.06\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e(.05\u0026sim;.07)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"100%\" colspan=\"9\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTLI=Turker-lewis index; CFI=Comparative fit index; SRMR=Standardized root-mean-square residual; RMSEA=Root mean square error of approximation; CI=Confidence interval.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe standardized path coefficients (\u0026beta;) for each sub-factor ranged from .48 to .89, as shown in Figure 3. The path coefficients and critical ratios for each item are presented in Table 3.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 3. Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Healthy Work Environment Quality (N=247)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.531353135313532%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactors\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"57.0957095709571%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eItems\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eB\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSE\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026beta;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCR\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.270627062706271%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.531353135313532%\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePhysical gratification\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"57.0957095709571%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex1. Nurses are guaranteed meal breaks during their shifts.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.75\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.270627062706271%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"66.03053435114504%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex2. Nurses can afford to drink water (beverages) during their shifts.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.99\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.73\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.87\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.251908396946565%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"66.03053435114504%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex3. Nurses have time to address menstrual issues during their shifts.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.67\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.53\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.86\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.251908396946565%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"66.03053435114504%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex9. Nurses have free access to rest areas during their shifts.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.67\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.48\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.21\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.251908396946565%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.531353135313532%\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePsychological stability\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"57.0957095709571%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex12. Nurses are recognized for their work by their peers/senior nurses.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.54\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.270627062706271%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"66.03053435114504%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex17. Nurses feel a sense of belonging as part of the unit.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.72\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.22\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.79\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7.94\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.251908396946565%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"66.03053435114504%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex18. Nurses feel fulfilled by their nursing work.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.53\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.70\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7.49\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.251908396946565%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"66.03053435114504%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex20. Nurses feel rewarded while practicing nursing.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.15\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.18\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.54\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.36\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.251908396946565%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.531353135313532%\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eIndependent competency\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"57.0957095709571%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex24. Nurses perform nursing behaviors independently to care for patients.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.80\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.56\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.270627062706271%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"66.03053435114504%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex29. Nurses perform mature communication commensurate with their years of experience.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.68\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7.41\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.251908396946565%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"66.03053435114504%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex30. Nurses can complete their work within their shift.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.05\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.15\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.52\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.90\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.251908396946565%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"66.03053435114504%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex32. Nurses do their part in nursing.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.12\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.75\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9.23\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.251908396946565%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"66.03053435114504%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex33. Nurses experience growth in their job competencies as they progress through their careers.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.07\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.13\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.65\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.37\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.251908396946565%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.531353135313532%\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCollaborative relationship\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"57.0957095709571%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex42. Senior nurses in my hospital (department) focus on education rather than blame for mistakes.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.61\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.270627062706271%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"66.03053435114504%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex43. Nurses in my hospital (department) work well as a team.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.31\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.13\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.83\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10.07\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.251908396946565%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"66.03053435114504%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex45. Nurses in my hospital (department) volunteer to help in the interest of teamwork.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.47\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.14\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.89\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10.43\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.251908396946565%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"66.03053435114504%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex46. Nurses in my hospital (department) solve difficult tasks through collaboration.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.24\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.13\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.81\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9.91\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.251908396946565%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"66.03053435114504%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex49. Nurse manager respects the decision-making of the nurses.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.02\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.13\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.58\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7.77\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.251908396946565%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.531353135313532%\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eStructural\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003esupport\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"57.0957095709571%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex55. Our hospital (department) has a sufficient number of nurses to provide quality care.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.75\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.775577557755776%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.270627062706271%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"66.03053435114504%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex57. Our hospital (department) assigns patients with severity levels that match the nurses\u0026apos; competencies.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.89\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.69\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9.60\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.251908396946565%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"66.03053435114504%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex58. Our hospital (department) has enough time for new nurses to adjust to the job.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.80\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.60\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.62\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.251908396946565%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"66.03053435114504%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex61. Our hospital (department) supports professional counseling services when the nurse needs help.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.71\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.09\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.58\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.19\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.251908396946565%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"66.03053435114504%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ex62. Our hospital (department) provides reasonable allowances in addition salary (overtime, night shift, hazardous duty, etc.).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.94\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.65\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.679389312977099%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9.07\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.251908396946565%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"100%\" colspan=\"7\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCR=critical ratio; SE=standard error.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConvergent validity and discriminant validity of the sub-factors were confirmed. The AVE values, which are the average of the squared values of the standardized factor loadings, fell below the recommended standard of .50 for four factors except social relationships, but the CR values calculated from the standardized factor loadings and error variance values were above the conservative standard of .70 for all five factors, thus securing convergent validity. The squared values of the correlation coefficients between the sub-factors were all smaller than the AVE values, confirming discriminant validity (Table 4).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 4. Convergent and Discriminant Validity (N=247)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.142857142857142%\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactors\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCR\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAVE\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMSV\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"52.857142857142854%\" colspan=\"4\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eInter-concept correlation\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003er (r\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"25%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"25%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"25%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"25%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.142857142857142%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.72\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.40\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.36\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.142857142857142%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.74\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.43\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.42\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.20(0.04)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.142857142857142%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.77\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.41\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.41\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.09(0.01)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.63(0.40)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.142857142857142%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.87\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.57\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.51\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.05(0.01)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.71(0.51)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.34(0.12)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.142857142857142%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.79\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.43\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.43\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.60(0.36)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.39(0.15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.22(0.05)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.214285714285714%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.22(0.05)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"100%\" colspan=\"8\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCR=construct reliability; AVE=average variance extract; MSV=maximum shared squared variance;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 1=physical gratification; Factor 2=psychological stability; Factor 3=independent competency;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 4=collaborative relationship; Factor 5=structural support.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. Verify criterion validity\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe correlation coefficient between the K-PES-NWI and the Healthy Work Environment Quality (HWEQ) instrument developed in this study was .54 (p\u0026lt;.001), indicating a statistically significant positive correlation. When examining the correlations by subscale, the correlation coefficient of factor 1 PES-MWI was .28 (p\u0026lt;.001), factor 2 and PES-MWI was .35 (p\u0026lt;.001), factor 3 and PES-MWI was .11 (p=.081), factor 4 and PES-MWI was .44 (p\u0026lt;.001), and factor 5 and PES-MWI was .51 (p\u0026lt;.001), which were statistically significant except for factor 3 (Table 5).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 5. Correlation between Healthy Work Environment Quality and K-PES-NWI (N=247)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"671\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.238805970149254%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.149253731343284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eHWEQ\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.507462686567164%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eM\u0026plusmn;SD\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSkewness\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eKurtosis\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.238805970149254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eHWEQ\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.149253731343284%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.507462686567164%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3.18\u0026plusmn;.42\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-.04\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-.19\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.238805970149254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.149253731343284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.56(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.507462686567164%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.45\u0026plusmn;.73\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.25\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.05\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.238805970149254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.149253731343284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.74(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.15( .022)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.507462686567164%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3.43\u0026plusmn;.58\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-.24\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.13\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.238805970149254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.149253731343284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.62(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.13( .046)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.55(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.507462686567164%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3.54\u0026plusmn;.54\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-.11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-.15\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.238805970149254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.149253731343284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.61(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.03( .605)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.55(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.28(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.507462686567164%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3.73\u0026plusmn;.59\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-.02\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.01\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.238805970149254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.149253731343284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.73(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.44(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.32(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.21( .001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.19( .003)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.507462686567164%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.66\u0026plusmn;.77\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-.03\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-.25\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.238805970149254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eK-PES-NWI\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.149253731343284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.54(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.28(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.35(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.11( .081)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.44(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.51(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.507462686567164%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.64\u0026plusmn;.38\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.02\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.97\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.238805970149254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePES-P\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.149253731343284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.42(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.24(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.27(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.02( .796)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.36(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.43(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.507462686567164%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.53\u0026plusmn;.48\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-.08\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.31\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.238805970149254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePES-F\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.149253731343284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.50(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.20( .002)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.35(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.19( .003)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.39(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.46(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.507462686567164%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.88\u0026plusmn;.39\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-.04\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.85\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.238805970149254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePES-M\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.149253731343284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.38(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.11( .086)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.33(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.02( .709)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.54(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.27(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.507462686567164%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.86\u0026plusmn;.49\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-.41\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.75\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.238805970149254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePES-S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.149253731343284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.53(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.44(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.22( .001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.12( .057)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.23(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.59(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.507462686567164%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.12\u0026plusmn;.55\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.26\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.32\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.238805970149254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePES-R\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.149253731343284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.33(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.15( .019)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.21( .001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.19( .003)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.31(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.23(\u0026lt;.001)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.507462686567164%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.66\u0026plusmn;.53\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-.33\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"9.850746268656716%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e.58\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"100%\" colspan=\"10\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eHWEQ=Healthy Work Environment Quality Instrument; Factor 1=physical gratification; Factor 2=psychological stability;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFactor 3=independent competency; Factor 4=collaborative relationship; Factor 5=structural support.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eK-PES-NWI=Korean Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index; PES-P=nurse participation in hospital affairs; PES-F=nursing foundations for quality of care; PES-M=nurse manager ability, leadership, and support of nurses; PES-S=staffing and resource adequacy; PES-R=collegial nurse\u0026ndash;physician relations.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. Verify reliability\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe overall Cronbach\u0026apos;s\u0026nbsp;⍺\u0026nbsp;coefficient of the developed in this study was .85. By sub-factor, it was .70 for factor 1, .76 for factor 2, .75 for factor 3, .86 for factor 4, and .79 for factor 5. In addition, when the test-retest reliability was analyzed for 32 nurses at an interval of 4 weeks, the correlation coefficient between the first and second surveys was .73 (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026lt;.001), which ensured the stability of the instrument. The correlation coefficient of test-retest reliability by sub-factor was .69 (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026lt;.001) for factor 1, .60 (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026lt;.001) for factor 2, .48 (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e=.006) for factor 3, .61 (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026lt;.001) for factor 4, and .66 (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026lt;.001) for factor 5.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. Optimization of instrument\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe HWEQ Instrument for shift nurses was finalized to include 23 items with five factors. The items were scored on a Likert scale ranging from 1 \u0026ldquo;strongly disagree\u0026rdquo; to 5 \u0026ldquo;strongly agree\u0026rdquo;, and the distribution of scores ranged from a low of 23 to a high of 115. The five factors identified were named as follows based on a conceptual framework that implies the content of the items: 1) Physical gratification (4 items), 2) Psychological stability (4 items), 3) Independent competency (5 items), 4) Collaborative relationship (5 items), and 5) Structural support (5 items). When the total score was calculated, the higher the score, the higher the quality of the nurse\u0026apos;s perceived healthy work environment.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study derived a conceptual framework based on WHO's health-related quality of life attributes and AACN's standards for a healthy nursing work environment, and developed preliminary items to measure the quality of a healthy work environment through a literature review and interviews with shift nurses. The validity of the instrument was verified through confirmatory factor analysis with shift nurses.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the final set of items adopted for this study, the first factor, \u0026ldquo;physical gratification\u0026rdquo;, consisted of four items related to meal breaks, time to quench thirst and physiological needs, and free access to rest areas. The results confirmed that nurses\u0026rsquo; physical comfort was maintained by ensuring meal breaks, satisfying physiological needs, providing resting areas, and when the intensity of work was appropriately guaranteed to prevent physical strain, which are factors that determine the quality of a healthy work environment. Previous studies have also found that a physical factor contributing to the poor quality of nurses\u0026rsquo; work environment is the level of fatigue experienced by nurses, and that increased fatigue is associated with decreased nursing performance [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR48\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e48\u003c/span\u003e]. In addition, unmet physiological needs increased turnover intentions among shift nurses [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR49\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e49\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR50\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e50\u003c/span\u003e]. Previous studies on nurses' work environments and AACN's healthy nursing work environment standards did not directly assess physical factors [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e]. This study addresses this gap by developing a questionnaire to measure factors influencing physical health. As nurses are required to work three shifts because of the nature of their work, which requires them to be at the patient\u0026rsquo;s bedside 24 hours a day, they should not ignore factors in their work environment that affect their physical health. In a survey of nurses' human rights violations in Korea, 31.1% of nurses did not have guaranteed meal breaks and 54.4% of nurses did not have guaranteed rest breaks, and reported working conditions that were detrimental to their physical health [51]. In addition, a qualitative study of shift nurses, they reported that they longed for freedom to take meal breaks during work and were worried about changing jobs because of concerns about their physical health [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR49\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e49\u003c/span\u003e]. Breaks are defined as uninterrupted periods of at least 20 minutes to recover from physical and mental strain, and no work should be performed during these periods [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e52\u003c/span\u003e]. In the United States, state labor laws require a minimum of 30 minutes for meal breaks [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR52\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e53\u003c/span\u003e]. Several studies have reported nurses\u0026rsquo; tendency to miss breaks or stop eating during the workday [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e52\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR53\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e54\u003c/span\u003e] and emphasized the need for breaks during the work [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e55\u003c/span\u003e]. Despite this, nurses continue to work without access to meals or breaks, and when they do, work is often completed in less than 15 minutes [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR55\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e56\u003c/span\u003e]. These poor working conditions lead to nurses leaving the workplace, which in turn leads to nursing shortage and further aggravating the working conditions, resulting in a vicious cycle. Therefore, to improve the quality of a healthy work environment for nurses, it is important to create a work environment that satisfies their basic physiological needs and promotes physical safety and comfort.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe second factor \u0026ldquo;psychological stability\u0026rdquo; consisted of four items related to the positive emotions experienced by shift nurses while working in the field. The results confirmed that nurses' perceptions of being recognized by their peers, feeling a sense of belonging, and being rewarded were factors affecting healthy work environment. The AACN's standards for a healthy nursing work environment defines a healthy workplace as one in which nurses receive appropriate recognition for their work and growth under the \u0026lsquo;meaningful recognition\u0026rsquo; factor [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e], the results of this study are similar to those of this study. Nurses found recognition from patients, their families, and fellow nurses in the team to be most meaningful, and such recognition was positively associated with increased job satisfaction, decreased turnover intentions, and quality of care [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR57\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e57\u003c/span\u003e]. In this study, the sense of accomplishment and reward experienced by nurses, not only through their work but also through team and individual recognition, is a factor that promotes their mental health. This is the most unique factor that distinguishes this study from previous studies related to nursing work environment. Previous studies comprised items about positive experiences through the personal behavior of nursing managers [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e]. Another study asked about nurse managers' ability to support nurses in decision-making and provide praise and recognition [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e], which are categorized as the domain of nurse managers [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e] In this study, we took a difference by confirming that the quality of the healthy work environment can also depend on the personal experiences of nurses, not nurse managers. In other words, the more positive emotional experiences nurses have through their work, the better the quality of a healthy work environment. Therefore, it is necessary for nurses to develop their competencies and experience fulfillment and reward through their work. Additionally, it is necessary to create an organizational culture in which all members, including nursing managers, provide meaningful recognition and encouragement to each other to increase positive emotional experiences.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe third factor \u0026ldquo;independent competency\u0026rdquo; consisted of five items related to nurses' independence and scope of work. The study found that nurses' capability to complete their assigned tasks on time and do their share of the work, and to experience growth in their nursing competencies over the course of their careers were factors affecting the quality of a healthy work environment. The AACN's healthy work environment standards for nurses identify their participation in the decision-making process of patient care and influence the quality of care as a component of healthy working environment under the factor of \u0026ldquo;effective decision-making\u0026rdquo; [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e]. The domestically developed nursing work environment measurement tool comprised items that measured nurses' independent work performance and clarification of work scope [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e] that was an active reflection of nurses' work competence in professional practice areas [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e]. There were items that measured nurses' independent competence. This study partially agrees with the previous studies by focusing on the scope and competence of nurses\u0026rsquo; independent work to measure the quality of their healthy work environment. However, independent competence was not significantly correlated with \u0026ldquo;nurse participation in hospital affairs\u0026rdquo;, \u0026ldquo;nurse manager ability, leadership, and support of nurses\u0026rdquo;, and \u0026ldquo;staffing and resource adequacy\u0026rdquo; among the sub-factors of the K-PES-NWI used as validity measures. This suggests that the independent competency items developed in this study are unique items that can assess the quality of a healthy work environment, which has not been assessed by existing measurement instruments. An environment in which nurses can actively practice nursing and experience growth as they progress through their careers is critical to their profession. Nurses\u0026rsquo; professional autonomy of nurses means that they are trained based on their professional knowledge and sense of responsibility and perform their nursing duties by making reasonable decisions through good communication [58]. In other words, nurses' professionalism can be exerted in an environment in which their independent competence and growth are guaranteed. Additionally, previous studies have shown that professional autonomy predicts nurses\u0026rsquo; job stress and increases job satisfaction [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR58\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e59\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR59\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e60\u003c/span\u003e]. Ensuring nurses' autonomy through independent competencies should be considered in order to promote healthy work environment for nurses. Previous studies have shown that nurses' professional autonomy has a significant effect on job satisfaction [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR61\" citationid=\"CR59\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e60\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR61\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e62\u003c/span\u003e] Therefore, establishing clear roles and professional autonomy for nurses are important key indicators of a healthy work environment. To improve the quality of healthy working environment for nurses, there should be continuous support for them to clarify their scope of work and grow their work capacity to ensure independent autonomy in nursing field, including medical institutions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe fourth factor \u0026ldquo;collaborative relationship\u0026rdquo; consisted of five items related to the teamwork and the true collaboration that nurses experience on the job. In this study, nurses identified working in a teamwork environment, volunteering to help in teamwork, collaboratively solving difficult tasks, and being respected by nurse managers as factors affecting the quality of a healthy work environment. Among the sub-factors of the K-PES-NWI instrument utilized as a quasi-validity measure, nurse manager ability, leadership, and support of nurse\u0026rsquo; showed a high correlation of more than .50. In nursing practice, the concept of collaboration is \u0026ldquo;an intra- or interprofessional process in which team members respectfully share knowledge and resources to solve patient care or healthcare system problem [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR62\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e63\u003c/span\u003e]\u0026rdquo;. The \u0026ldquo;cooperative relationship factor\u0026rdquo; in this study faithfully reflects this concept of \u0026ldquo;collaboration\u0026rdquo;. The evaluation of essential magnetism (EOM), a magnet certification measure for nurse retention in the United States, emphasizes that a healthy work environment is interpersonally oriented [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e]. In addition, AACN's healthy working environment standards suggest pursuing \u0026ldquo;true collaboration\u0026rdquo; and having a structured process for such collaboration [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e]. This study also found that interpersonal relationships and teamwork among nurses were determinants of the quality of a healthy work environment, confirming previous research that teamwork and collaboration are fundamental factors in achieving patient care [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR63\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e64\u003c/span\u003e]. On the other hand, while the domestically developed nursing work environment measurement instruments focus on the relationship and cooperation with physicians and the leadership of nursing managers [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e], this study differed from previous studies by selecting one item, \"The nursing manager respects the decision-making of the nurse in charge,\" as a question about nursing managers. Interprofessional teamwork and cooperation have been identified as effective strategies for healthcare delivery in primary healthcare organizations [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR64\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e65\u003c/span\u003e]. In addition, nurse-physician collaboration and nurse-nurse collaboration have been found to be significantly associated with patient safety outcomes in acute care settings [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR65\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e66\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR66\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e67\u003c/span\u003e]. Effective communication and collaboration have also been shown to increase nurses' job satisfaction, quality of care, and decrease turnover intentions [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e]. Thus, teamwork and collaboration among nurses are crucial for patient safety and providing the best care. To improve the quality of a healthy work environment, regular training and practice must be conducted for nurses to develop their skilled communication skills, and efforts should be made to improve the atmosphere of nursing organizations to foster collaborative teamwork.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe fifth factor \u0026ldquo;structural support\u0026rdquo; consisted of five items related to the systemic support provided by the healthcare organization. This study found that an adequate number of nurses, assignment of patients according to severity, educational support for new nurses, support for professional counseling services, and reasonable allowances were factors affecting the quality of a healthy work environment. Among the sub-factors of the K-PES-NWI instrument utilized as a quasi-validity measure, \u0026ldquo;staffing and resource adequacy\u0026rdquo; showed a high correlation of more than .50. These results are consistent with previous research on administrative and financial support of healthcare organizations, such as \"supportive policies\"[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e] and \"sufficient personnel and material support\"[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. Previous studies have also shown that sufficient staffing is necessary to create a desirable nursing work environment [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e] and the need to provide physical resources [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. In addition, it was emphasized that staffing that considers patient severity and nurse competence is an essential factor in the nursing work environment [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e]. In a study of the relationship between staffing, work environment, and readmission of surgical patients in the United States, the quality of nurses' work environment and adequacy of staffing were significantly associated with readmission [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR67\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e68\u003c/span\u003e]. The AACN's healthy nursing working environment standards also identify adequate staffing as a key component [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e]. To address work intensity that impairs nurses' health, organizations should strive to ensure adequate staffing. Insufficient nurse staffing levels and excessive workloads have been strongly associated with nurse burnout, which reduces the quality of care delivered to patients and threatens patient safety [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR68\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e69\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR69\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e70\u003c/span\u003e] Turnover rates for new nurses continue to rise, with 52.8% of new nurses resigning within one year in 2022 Korea [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR70\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e71\u003c/span\u003e]. Whether new nurses experienced a supportive environment in the first six months determined the success of their adjustment, the more positively new nurses perceived the working environment in the hospital, the lower the transition shock to the new environment [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR71\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e72\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR72\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e73\u003c/span\u003e]. This study also confirmed the importance of providing an appropriate period of time for new nurses to adapt to their work and professional counseling services when necessary to create a healthy work environment. As such, structural supports, such as ensuring an adequate number of nurses and appropriate patient assignments according to severity, supporting new nurses to their work, accessing professional counseling services, and reasonable allowances, are essential for the quality of nurses' healthy work environment. To ensure a healthy work environment for nurses, a systematic approach based on an understanding of the complexity of nursing workplaces, and active financial and administrative support should be provided.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo develop an instrument to evaluate the quality of a healthy work environment for shift nurses in Korea, this study refined the questionnaire through establishment of content validity by experts, interviews with novice nurses, and evaluation of questionnaire understanding through a preliminary survey. The K-PES-NWI was used as a standardized measurement instrument in related fields, and its content validity, construct validity, and high reliability were reported at the time of development. It is significant that the existing nursing work environment instruments cover organizational culture, staffing, communication, collaboration, and leadership of nursing managers, whereas the instrument developed in this study covers aspects of physical, psychological, and independent factors of nurses. Nevertheless, the correlation between the sub-factors was not significant for factor 1 (physical gratification) or factor 4 (collaborative relationship), limiting its validity. Future research should repeat the study to reconfirm the relevance of physical gratification and collaborative relationships in constructing the categories of the healthy work environment quality construct. In addition, there is a limitation that the conceptual framework did not address the \u0026ldquo;spiritual domain\u0026rdquo; among the sub-factors of health-related quality of life proposed by the WHO. We recommend that future research extend the conceptual framework by analyzing the \u0026ldquo;spiritual domain\u0026rdquo; as a component of a healthy work environment. Finally, the generalizability of the findings is limited because of the geographically biased sample. Therefore, we recommend a replication study with cross-validation to evaluate the quality of nurses' healthy work environment by expanding this study to various regions and medical institutions.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusions","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe HWEQ Instrument was found to be reliable and valid to quantitatively measure nurses' perceived quality of healthy work environment. The HWEQ consists of 23 items and 5 sub-factors. The HWEQ is measured on a 5-point Likert scale, and a higher total score is interpreted as a nurse's perceived healthy work environment. By measuring the components of physical gratification, psychological stability, independent competence, collaborative relationship, and structural support from the perspective of shift nurses, the HWEQ can assess the quality of a healthy work environment and provide meaningful information about nursing work. Furthermore, by identifying the factors that contribute to health and unhealth in nurses' work environments, it can be used to reduce job stress and prevent premature turnover. By exploring ways to maintain and promote health through the creation of a desirable nursing work environment, we can contribute to the development of policies to improve the quality of life of shift nurses.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe academic and practical significance of this research can be summarized as follows. The academic contribution is to develop an instrument that can quantitatively measure the quality of a healthy work environment for nurses and to promote research on healthy work environments to improve the health of nurses. Practical Significance is that it can increase awareness and attention to healthy work environments for nurses in clinical settings. In addition, this instrument can contribute to the improvement of a healthy and desirable working environment for nurses and provide a basis for the development of programs to promote a healthy work environment.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSince this instrument was developed based on the Korean cultural background, cross-cultural validity testing is required when applying it in other cultures. We look forward to further research on the quality of nurses' healthy work environment in other cultures.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors’ contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSHS and EHL made substantial contributions to conception and design and drafting the article. Analysis and interpretation of data were performed by SHS. SHS and EHL read and approved the manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability of data and materials\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dataset supporting the conclusions is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEthical approval and consent to participate were obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Sahmyook University (No. SYU 2022-02-014). The clinical nurses were informed about the study and voluntarily decided to participate in the study. The hospital IRB approval was obtained to survey for clinical nurses (IRB No. SEOUL 2022-08-009). Informed consent was obtained from all participants involved in the study. The anonymity and confidentiality of the participants were assured and data were treated as strictly confidential. Nurses who agreed to participate in the study were provided with an informed consent form stating that the data would not be used for any purpose other than the research. All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor details\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 College of Nursing, Sahmyook University, 815 Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01795, Republic of Korea.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. Corresponding author* College of Nursing, Sahmyook University, 815 Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01795, Republic of Korea.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ee-mail:
[email protected]\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheng CY, Liou SR, Tsai HM, Chang CH: Job stress and job satisfaction among new graduate nurses during the first year of employment in T aiwan. \u003cem\u003eInt J Nurs Pract \u003c/em\u003e2015, 21(4):410-418 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKoreaNurseAssociation: 2021 Hospital Nursing Staffing Survey. In\u003cem\u003e.\u003c/em\u003e: KoreaNurseAssociation; 2021.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHong KJ, Cho S-H: Comparison of nursing workforce supply and employment in South Korea and other OECD countries. \u003cem\u003ePerspectives in Nursing Science \u003c/em\u003e2017, 14(2):55-63 https://doi.org/10.16952/pns.2017.14.2.55\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKim J, Lee TW: The Influence of Nursing Practice Environment, Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction on Burnout among Clinical Nurses \u003cem\u003eJournal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research \u003c/em\u003e2016, 22(2):109-117 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKwon JO, Kim E-Y: Impact of Unit-level Nurse Practice Environment on Nurse Turnover Intention in the Small and Medium Sized Hospitals. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration \u003c/em\u003e2012, 18(4):414-423 https://doi.org/10.11111/jkana.2012.18.4.414\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCopanitsanou P, Fotos N, Brokalaki H: Effects of work environment on patient and nurse outcomes. \u003cem\u003eBr J Nurs \u003c/em\u003e2017, 26(3):172-176 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKang Y-J, Jung K-I: Effects of Emotional Intelligence and Nursing Working Environment on Nursing Performance of Nurses Caring for Cancer Patients in Small and Medium Hospitals: The Mediating Effect of. \u003cem\u003eAsian Oncology Nursing \u003c/em\u003e2019, 19(4):233-241 10.5388/aon.2019.19.4.233\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKlopper HC, Coetzee SK, Pretorius R, Bester P: Practice environment, job satisfaction and burnout of critical care nurses in South Africa. \u003cem\u003eJournal of nursing management \u003c/em\u003e2012, 20(5):685-695 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLake ET: Development of the practice environment scale of the nursing work index. \u003cem\u003eRes Nurs Health \u003c/em\u003e2002, 25(3):176-188 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHall LM: Indicators of nurse staffing and quality nursing work environments. In: \u003cem\u003eQuality work environments for nurse and patient safety.\u003c/em\u003e edn. Sudbury MA: Jones \u0026amp; Bartlett Learning; 2005: 1-7.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLee SY, Oh EJ, Sung KM: The Experiences of Turnover Intention in Early Stage Nurses. \u003cem\u003eJournal of East-West Nursing Research \u003c/em\u003e2013, 19(2):168-176 https://doi.org/10.14370/jewnr.2013.19.2.168\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFitzpatrick JJ: The future of nursing (our future): leading change, advancing health. \u003cem\u003eNurs Educ Perspect \u003c/em\u003e2010, 31(6):346 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCho H, Han K: Associations among nursing work environment and health‐promoting behaviors of nurses and nursing performance quality: A multilevel modeling approach. \u003cem\u003eJ Nurs Scholarsh \u003c/em\u003e2018, 50(4):403-410 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKim H-S, Kim Y-S, Hong M-H, Kim J-U: Comparison of physical, mental health status and work-related injuries according to the working environment of nurses. \u003cem\u003eJournal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society \u003c/em\u003e2015, 16(1):527-535 10.5762/KAIS.2015.16.1.527 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCho E, Choi M, Kim E-Y, Yoo IY, Lee N-J: Construct Validity and Reliability of the Korean Version of the Practice Environment Scale of Nursing Work Index for Korean Nurses. \u003cem\u003eJ Korean Acad Nurs \u003c/em\u003e2011, 41(3):325-332 http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2011.41.3.325\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePark S-H, Kang J: Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Korean Nursing Work Environment Scale. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Korean Critical Care Nursing \u003c/em\u003e2015, 8(1):50-61 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRyu MJ, In WY, Cho EH: Development of Korea version of the Practice Environment Scale for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses \u003cem\u003eJounral of Korean Academy Nurse Administration \u003c/em\u003e2020, 26(2):160-171 http://doi.org/10.11111/jkana.2020.26.2.160\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLee HJ, Moon JH, Kim SR, Shim MY, Kim JY, Lee MA: Development and Validation of a Korean Nursing Work Environment Scale for Critical Care Nurses. \u003cem\u003eJounal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research \u003c/em\u003e2021, 27(3):279-293 https://doi.org/10.22650/JKCNR.2021.27.3.279\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKim MJ, Kim JK: Development of a Positive Nursing Organizational Culture Measurement Tool. \u003cem\u003eJ Korean Acad Nurs \u003c/em\u003e2021, 51(3):305-319 10.4040/jkan.21014\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUlrich B, Barden C, Cassidy L, Varn-Davis N: Critical care nurse work environments 2018: findings and implications. \u003cem\u003eCrit Care Nurse \u003c/em\u003e2019, 39(2):67-84 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCallahan D: The WHO definition of\u0026apos;health\u0026apos;. \u003cem\u003eHastings Center Stud \u003c/em\u003e1973, 1:77-87 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWHOQOLGroup: Field trial WHOQOL-100. February 1995: Facet definitions and questions. In: \u003cem\u003eGeneva: WHO (MNH/PSF/951 B).\u003c/em\u003e 1995.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMin SK, Kim KI, Suh SY, Kim DK: Development of the Korean Version of The World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale(WHOQOL) \u003cem\u003eJ Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc \u003c/em\u003e2000, 39(1):78-88 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWHOQOLGroup: The World Health Organization quality of life assessment (WHOQOL): position paper from the World Health Organization. \u003cem\u003eSoc Sci Med \u003c/em\u003e1995, 41(10):1403-1409 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeVellis RF, Thorpe CT: Scale development: Theory and applications: Sage publications; 2021.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAACN: AACN standards for establishing and sustaining healthy work environments: A journey to excellence: Executive summary. \u003cem\u003eAmerican Association of Critical-Care Nurses Web site\u0026lt; www aacn org \u003c/em\u003e2016 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAiken LH, Patrician PA: Measuring organizational traits of hospitals: the Revised Nursing Work Index. \u003cem\u003eNurs Res \u003c/em\u003e2000, 49(3):146-153 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKramer M, Schmalenberg C, Maguire P: Essentials of a magnetic work environment part 4. \u003cem\u003eNursing2022 \u003c/em\u003e2004, 34(9):44-48 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKim J, Choi H: Validation of Korean version of Professional quality of life(K-ProQOL)for nurses through confirmatory factor analysis \u003cem\u003eJournal of the Korea Academia-Industrial Cooperation Society \u003c/em\u003e2019, 20(3):243-251 https://doi.org/10.5762/KAIS.2019.20.3.243\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSkevington SM, Sartorius N, Amir M, WHOQOL-Group1: Developing methods for assessing quality of life in different cultural settings: The history of the WHOQOL instruments. \u003cem\u003eSoc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol \u003c/em\u003e2004, 39:1-8 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGholami A, Jahromi LM, Zarei E, Dehghan A: Application of WHOQOL-BREF in measuring quality of life in health-care staff. \u003cem\u003eInt J Prev Med \u003c/em\u003e2013, 4(7):809 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePourvakhshoori N, Norouzi K, Ahmadi F, Hosseini M, Khankeh H: Nurse in limbo: A qualitative study of nursing in disasters in Iranian context. \u003cem\u003ePLoS One \u003c/em\u003e2017, 12(7):e0181314 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKupcewicz E, J\u0026oacute;źwik M: Role of global self-esteem, professional burnout and selected socio-demographic variables in the prediction of polish nurses\u0026rsquo; quality of life\u0026ndash;A cross-sectional study. \u003cem\u003eRisk Manag Healthc Policy \u003c/em\u003e2020:671-684 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLee BS: The relationship of shift work nurse\u0026prime;s positive psychological capital and the quality of life. Seoul: Yonsei University; 2016.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVauhkonen A, Saaranen T, Honkalampi K, J\u0026auml;rvelin‐Pasanen S, Kupari S, Tarvainen MP, Perki\u0026ouml;‐M\u0026auml;kel\u0026auml; M, R\u0026auml;s\u0026auml;nen K, Oksanen T: Work community factors, occupational well‐being and work ability in home care: A structural equation modelling. \u003cem\u003eNursing Open \u003c/em\u003e2021, 8(6):3190-3200 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHallin K, Danielson E: Registered nurses\u0026rsquo; experiences of daily work, a balance between strain and stimulation: A qualitative study. \u003cem\u003eInt J Nurs Stud \u003c/em\u003e2007, 44(7):1221-1230 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWei H, Sewell KA, Woody G, Rose MA: The state of the science of nurse work environments in the United States: A systematic review. \u003cem\u003eInternational journal of nursing sciences \u003c/em\u003e2018, 5(3):287-300 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScruth EA, Garcia S, Buchner L: Work life quality, healthy work environments, and nurse retention. \u003cem\u003eClin Nurse Spec \u003c/em\u003e2018, 32(3):111-113 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eyang Ditanggapi PKP: Authentic leadership and psychological well-being at the workplace: exploring the mediating role of perceived job security. \u003cem\u003eJurnal Pengurusan \u003c/em\u003e2021, 63:115-125 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInductivo AMC, Villanueva JCV: Nurses\u0026rsquo; Opinion on Protection of Nurses\u0026rsquo; Rights. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Nurses Voice and Impact\u003c/em\u003e, 1(2) \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHair JF, Anderson RE, Babin BJ, Black WC: Multivariate data analysis: A global perspective (Vol. 7). In\u003cem\u003e.\u003c/em\u003e: Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson; 2010: 111-113.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKim CT: Misuse of Exploratory Factor Analysis and Its Remedies. \u003cem\u003eSurvey Research \u003c/em\u003e2016, 17(1):1-29 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHong SH: Criteria for Selecting Appropriate Fit Indices in Structural Equation Modeling and Their Rationales. \u003cem\u003eKorean Journal of Clinical Psychology \u003c/em\u003e2000, 19(1):161-177 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLee H, Lim J: Structural equation modeling with AMOS 20.0. Seoul: JipHyunJae Publishing Co.; 2013.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKang H: A Guide on the Use of Factor Analysis in the Assessment of Construct Validity. \u003cem\u003eJ Korean Acad Nurs \u003c/em\u003e2013, 43(5):587-594 https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2013.43.5.587\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePark I, Eom H, Lee G: Issues and Concurrent Solutions for the Application of Confirmatory Factor Analysis in Physical Education and Exercise Science Research. \u003cem\u003eThe Korean Journal of Measurement and Evaluation in Physical Education and Sport Science \u003c/em\u003e2014, 16(1):1-22 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWoo JP: Concepts and Understanding Structural Equation Models. Seoul: Hannarae Publishing; 2013.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBarker LM, Nussbaum MA: Fatigue, performance and the work environment: a survey of registered nurses. \u003cem\u003eJournal of advanced nursing \u003c/em\u003e2011, 67(6):1370-1382 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKim SJ, Kim WJ: A phenomenological convergence study on the mealtime experience of shift nurses on duty. \u003cem\u003eJournal of the Korea Convergence Society \u003c/em\u003e2019, 10(1):307-316 https://doi.org/10.15207/JKCS.2019.10.1.307\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShin S-H, Baek O-J, Lee E-H: Effects of Nursing Work Environment, Need Satisfaction, and Depression on Turnover Intention in Korea. In: \u003cem\u003eHealthcare: 2023\u003c/em\u003e: MDPI; 2023: 1698.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKorean Nurse Association [Internet]. Nurse human rights violations and improvement plan [http://www.koreanurse.or.kr/board/board_read.php?board_id=policy\u0026amp;member_id=admin\u0026amp;exec=\u0026amp;no=92\u0026amp;category_no=\u0026amp;step=0\u0026amp;tag=\u0026amp;sgroup=77\u0026amp;sfloat=\u0026amp;position=0\u0026amp;mode=\u0026amp;find=stitle\u0026amp;search]\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWendsche J, Ghadiri A, Bengsch A, Wegge J: Antecedents and outcomes of nurses\u0026rsquo; rest break organization: A scoping review. \u003cem\u003eInt J Nurs Stud \u003c/em\u003e2017, 75:65-80 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHurtado DA, Nelson CC, Hashimoto D, Sorensen G: Supervisors\u0026rsquo; support for nurses\u0026rsquo; meal breaks and mental health. \u003cem\u003eWorkplace Health Saf \u003c/em\u003e2015, 63(3):107-115 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBae S-H, Hwang S-W, Lee G: Work hours, overtime, and break time of registered nurses working in medium-sized Korean hospitals. \u003cem\u003eWorkplace Health Saf \u003c/em\u003e2018, 66(12):588-596 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHunter EM, Wu C: Give me a better break: Choosing workday break activities to maximize resource recovery. \u003cem\u003eJ Appl Psychol \u003c/em\u003e2016, 101(2):302 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTrinkoff AM, Le R, Geiger‐Brown J, Lipscomb J, Lang G: Longitudinal relationship of work hours, mandatory overtime, and on‐call to musculoskeletal problems in nurses. \u003cem\u003eAm J Ind Med \u003c/em\u003e2006, 49(11):964-971 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKelly LA, Lefton C: Effect of meaningful recognition on critical care nurses\u0026rsquo; compassion fatigue. \u003cem\u003eAm J Crit Care \u003c/em\u003e2017, 26(6):438-444 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePark S, Jo D: Conceptual Analysis of Professional Autonomy of Nurses. \u003cem\u003eHealth \u0026amp; Nursing \u003c/em\u003e2022, 34(2):41-50 https://doi.org/10.29402/HN34.2.5\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAsl RG, Taghinejad R, Parizad N, Jasemi M: The relationship between professional autonomy and job stress among intensive care unit nurses: A descriptive correlational study. \u003cem\u003eIran J Nurs Midwifery Res \u003c/em\u003e2022, 27(2):119 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLabrague LJ, McEnroe‐Petitte DM, Tsaras K: Predictors and outcomes of nurse professional autonomy: A cross‐sectional study. \u003cem\u003eInt J Nurs Pract \u003c/em\u003e2019, 25(1):e12711 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLee SJ: The role ambiguity, role conflict, and professional autonomy of nurses in oncology care units Impact on job satisfaction Seoul: Yonsei University; 2020.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePenconek T, Tate K, Bernardes A, Lee S, Micaroni SP, Balsanelli AP, de Moura AA, Cummings GG: Determinants of nurse manager job satisfaction: A systematic review. \u003cem\u003eInt J Nurs Stud \u003c/em\u003e2021, 118:103906 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEmich C: Conceptualizing collaboration in nursing. In: \u003cem\u003eNurs Forum: 2018\u003c/em\u003e: Wiley Online Library; 2018: 567-573.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYun S, Kang J, Lee Y-O, Yi Y: Work environment and workplace bullying among Korean intensive care unit nurses. \u003cem\u003eAsian Nurs Res (Korean Soc Nurs Sci) \u003c/em\u003e2014, 8(3):219-225 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anr.2014.07.002\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSangaleti C, Schveitzer MC, Peduzzi M, Zoboli ELCP, Soares CB: Experiences and shared meaning of teamwork and interprofessional collaboration among health care professionals in primary health care settings: a systematic review. \u003cem\u003eJBI Evidence Synthesis \u003c/em\u003e2017, 15(11):2723-2788 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMa C, Park SH, Shang J: Inter-and intra-disciplinary collaboration and patient safety outcomes in US acute care hospital units: A cross-sectional study. \u003cem\u003eInt J Nurs Stud \u003c/em\u003e2018, 85:1-6 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRezaei S, Roshangar F, Rahmani A, Tabrizi F, Sarbakhsh P, Parvan K: Emergency nurses\u0026apos; attitudes toward interprofessional collaboration and teamwork and their affecting factors: A cross-sectional study. \u003cem\u003eNursing and Midwifery Studies \u003c/em\u003e2021, 10(3):173-173 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMa C, McHugh MD, Aiken LH: Organization of hospital nursing and 30-day readmissions in Medicare patients undergoing surgery. \u003cem\u003eMed Care \u003c/em\u003e2015, 53(1):65 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDall\u0026rsquo;Ora C, Ball J, Reinius M, Griffiths P: Burnout in nursing: a theoretical review. \u003cem\u003eHuman resources for health \u003c/em\u003e2020, 18:1-17 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGalletta M, Portoghese I, Ciuffi M, Sancassiani F, D\u0026apos;Aloja E, Campagna M: Working and environmental factors on job burnout: a cross-sectional study among nurses. \u003cem\u003eClinical practice and epidemiology in mental health: CP \u0026amp; EMH \u003c/em\u003e2016, 12:132 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHospitalNursingAssociations: 2022 Hospital Nursing Staffing Survey. In\u003cem\u003e.\u003c/em\u003e; 2023.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMoon KJ, Cho MY: Factors influencing the transition shock of newly-graduated nurses. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Korean Academic Society Nursing Education \u003c/em\u003e2022, 28(2):156-166 https://doi.org/10.5977/jkasne.2022.28.2.156\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCao X, Li J, Gong S: Effects of resilience, social support, and work environment on turnover intention in newly graduated nurses: The mediating role of transition shock. \u003cem\u003eJournal of nursing management \u003c/em\u003e2021, 29(8):2585-2593 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"
[email protected]","identity":"bmc-nursing","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"nurs","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Nursing](http://bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/nurs/default.aspx","title":"BMC Nursing","twitterHandle":"@BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Nurses, Work, Environment, Factor analysis, Validation study","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3536578/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3536578/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs the importance of a healthy work environment for nurses' good practice and patient safety has been recognized, there is a need to assess nurses' perceptions of the quality of a healthy work environment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe initial items for the instrument were developed through literature review and interviews. The initial items were evaluated for content validity by ten experts. Two hundred and forty-seven shift nurses participated in this study through face-to-face surveys to test the reliability and validity of the instrument. The evaluation was used for item and confirmatory factor analyses to assess the criterion-related validity and internal consistency of the instrument. Test-retest reliability was analyzed using data from thirty-two nurses.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe final instrument consisted of 23 items with five sub-factors identified through confirmatory factor analysis. Criterion-related validity was established using the K-PES-NWI (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.54). Cronbach's alpha for the total items was .85, and test-retest reliability was .73.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe results confirmed the validity and reliability of the developed instrument. This instrument can be used as a basis for evaluating the healthy work environment quality of shift nurses and creating a desirable nursing work environment.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Development and validation of a healthy work environment quality instrument","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2023-11-03 20:20:23","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3536578/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2023-11-02T08:25:33+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2023-11-02T07:48:09+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2023-11-02T07:25:20+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"BMC Nursing","date":"2023-11-01T15:38:32+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"
[email protected]","identity":"bmc-nursing","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"nurs","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Nursing](http://bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/nurs/default.aspx","title":"BMC Nursing","twitterHandle":"@BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"90171c45-24e0-4b6e-8ba9-8e02e27db09e","owner":[],"postedDate":"November 3rd, 2023","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-01-15T15:03:10+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-3536578","link":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-023-01672-4","journal":{"identity":"bmc-nursing","isVorOnly":false,"title":"BMC Nursing"},"publishedOn":"2024-01-12 15:00:39","publishedOnDateReadable":"January 12th, 2024"},"versionCreatedAt":"2023-11-03 20:20:23","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1186/s12912-023-01672-4","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-023-01672-4","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-3536578","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-3536578","identity":"rs-3536578","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"-HB7Z8yhvgn0wM9Nzuekk","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}
Text is read by the "Ask this paper" AI Q&A widget below.
Extraction quality varies by source — PMC NXML preserves structure
cleanly, OA-HTML may include some navigation residue, and OA-PDF can
have broken hyphenation. The publisher copy
(via DOI)
is the canonical version.