Nursing and society: Evolution of Nursing and of capitalism in the 200 years of Florence Nightingale

Development of the Nurse Occupational Stigma Scale

INTRODUCTION

Occupational stigma toward nurses exerts a negative impact on the physical and mental health and work performance of nurses. However, hitherto, there has been no quantitative instrument designed to assess occupational stigma toward nurses.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to develop the Nurse Occupational Stigma Scale (NOSS) and test its reliability and validity in the Chinese context.

METHODS

The items of the scale were formed through the open-ended interview and literature review. A questionnaire survey was administered among 765 patients using NOSS and the Caring Behaviors Inventory (CBI-24).

RESULTS

In the initial questionnaire, a total of 21 items were developed, and 5 items were dropped for cross-loadings. The formal scale consists of 16 items divided into three dimensions of negative label, nurse-patient relationship, and devaluation and discrimination. The results of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated that the three-factor model fitted well (χ 2/df=2.635, RMSEA=0.064, RFI=0.926, CFI=0.962, NFI=0.941, IFI=0.953). The total scores of the NOSS and the scores of all dimensions were significantly negatively correlated with the scores of the CBI-24. The internal consistency coefficients of the scale and all dimensions were between 0.827-0.920, and the split-half reliability coefficients were between 0.826-0.942. The NOSS had the measurement invariance across gender.

CONCLUSION

With its good reliability and validity, the NOSS can be an appropriate instrument for researchers to conduct studies about nurse occupational stigma.

Health hazard allowance for Nursing professionals: A reflective analysis under the principle of human dignity

OBJECTIVE

to discuss the classification of the health hazard allowance due to exposure to biological agents attributed to Nursing professionals, based on legal and occupational parameters supported on the principle of human dignity.

METHOD

an original reflection study with theoretical analysis on legislation, jurisprudence and Occupational Health focused on the biological risks, health hazard and rights of Brazilian workers. The discussions were based on the current legislation and on scientific evidence.

RESULTS

the classification of the health hazard allowance due to exposure to biological agents attributed to Nursing professionals is not in line with the factual situation experienced by them.

CONCLUSION

it becomes necessary to broaden the discussion on the subject matter and to review the effective and fair compensation of Nursing professionals due to exposure to potentially contaminated biological agents in their work environments, given that the health hazard allowance is a worker's right and is based on human dignity.