Nursing culture assessment tool (NCAT): Empirical validation for use in long-term care

BackgroundCapturing general aspects of the occupational subculture of nursing is needed in long-term care (LTC) given its latent influence on the quality of care that residents receive and on the ability of nursing staff (licensed nurses and certified nursing assistants) to implement evidence-based practice innovations. The psychometrically validated Nursing Culture Assessment Tool (NCAT) provides a comprehensive assessment using six dimensions (teamwork, communication, satisfaction, professional commitment, behaviors, and expectations), and evaluation of these dimensions could help positively reshape the culture before any change implementation.PurposeAims were to: (1) assess the validity and reliability of the NCAT across nursing staff in a single type of clinical setting – LTC facilities, and (2) present a refined theoretical model of the interaction of culture and practice implementation.MethodsA cross-sectional, exploratory investigation of the NCAT in LTC settings was conducted. Empirical construct validity of the 19-item NCAT's six subscales was investigated by confirmatory factor analysis using a sample of licensed nurses and certified nursing assistants (n = 318).ResultsThe model fit was judged using the comparative fit index (0.94) and standardized root mean-square residual (0.05). Cronbach's alpha correlation coefficients of items in each subscale and in the overall scale ranged from 0.76 to 0.94.ConclusionA summary of the NCAT development and report on its psychometric properties when administered in LTC settings is provided, extending previous findings of the NCAT's enhanced stability when used in assessing nursing staff perceptions in LTC and by demonstrating that the NCAT is a reliable and valid psychometric screening tool for nursing culture.