This study indicates the reliability and validity of the
NWS and its subscales across two comparable samples of
RNs in Massachusetts. More evidence of construct
validity is needed. Future research should include
whether the NWS factor structure is stable across other
student and RN populations and within nursing special-
ties and whether use of the NWS with other methods of
measurement will show convergent and divergent
validity. Such evidence is needed to further substantiate
the psychometric soundness of the NWS.
The tool is now available for further testing with other
populations of nursing students involved in clinical
settings and nurses and to be utilized in research to test a
variety of hypotheses and interventions.
Theses results suggest that oppressed group behaviors
do exist in nurses. These findings also suggest that
oppressed group behaviors vary with age and practice
setting but not with education or religion. These findings
begin to clarify the variability in oppressed group
behavior in nursing and create new hypotheses for
further exploration. This scale can be used to further
develop the research in this area.