Validated Questionnaire Measures Nephrology Nursing Competencies

A research team in China developed and validated a self-report questionnaire designed to assess the core competencies of nephrology specialist nurses. The resulting 19-item Core Competencies of Nephrology Specialist Nurses questionnaire, abbreviated CCNSN, measures four areas: nephrology nursing expertise, holistic care coordination, research and evidence-based practice, and digital health integration. The instrument-development study was published in BMC Nursing as an open-access article.

The researchers used a cross-sectional design based on classical test theory. They began with a literature review, consulted experts and conducted cognitive interviews before testing the questionnaire with nephrology nurses recruited from general tertiary and secondary hospitals in China. The study proceeded in two independent phases: 407 nurses contributed to exploratory factor analysis, while 203 nurses were included in confirmatory factor analysis after outlier removal. The investigators then assessed the instrument’s validity and reliability.

Analysis supported a four-factor structure that accounted for 60.95% of the total variance. The confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable model fit, with a chi-square-to-degrees-of-freedom ratio of 1.872, a comparative fit index of 0.949 and a root mean square error of approximation of 0.066. Evidence for convergent validity came from composite reliability values ranging from 0.868 to 0.909 and average variance extracted values of 0.615 to 0.646, while discriminant validity was described as generally acceptable. Overall internal consistency was high, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.93, and test-retest reliability ranged from 0.71 to 0.82.

The findings indicate that the CCNSN questionnaire has satisfactory measured validity and reliability for assessing the self-reported competencies of nephrology specialist nurses. The researchers proposed that it could support self-evaluation, targeted training, professional development and quality-improvement efforts in nephrology nursing, as well as competency-based workforce development in renal care settings. Because the study was cross-sectional and focused on nurses in Chinese general hospitals, its results do not by themselves establish effects on patient outcomes or demonstrate that use of the questionnaire improves care. The article was published online on 20 October 2026 and is an early version of record that may undergo further editorial changes.

Subject of Research: Development and validation of a nephrology specialist nursing competency questionnaire

Article Title: Development and validation of the core competencies of nephrology specialist nurses questionnaire

Article References: Duan, D.-F., Huang, Y.-Y., Yan, L.-J., Shi, Y.-Y., Tang, X., Chen, Y., Liu, M., & Ma, D.-Y. (2026). Development and validation of the core competencies of nephrology specialist nurses questionnaire. BMC Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-026-05420-2

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12912-026-05420-2

Keywords: nephrology nursing, competency assessment, questionnaire validation, nursing workforce, digital health, evidence-based practice, care coordination, China, Development, validation, core, competencies