The Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scales: a valid measure of maternal satisfaction with inpatient postpartum nursing care

Aim. To test the validity of The Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scales as measures of patient satisfaction with nursing care in an inpatient postpartum unit. Background. The Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scales (Experience of Nursing Care Scale and Satisfaction with Nursing Care Scale) were developed to measure the satisfaction of medical-surgical inpatients with nursing care. Methods. The Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scales were administered by interviewers to 189 postpartum women prior to hospital discharge. We tested the construct validity of the scales by making five a priori predictions: mothers who were more satisfied would be more likely to have one nurse caring for them and to recommend the postpartum unit to a friend. We also predicted that the Experience of Nursing Care and Satisfaction with Nursing Care Scales would be positively correlated with each other, with a global question about satisfaction with nursing care, and with a global question about satisfaction with overall postpartum stay. Results. Four of the five a priori predictions were supported by the data. The mean Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scale scores of mothers who would recommend the unit to a friend were higher (more satisfied) than those who would not (P < 0.001). The Experience of Nursing Care Scale and Satisfaction with Nursing Care Scale were positively and significantly correlated with each other (r = 0-9, P < 0.001). There was a positive and significant correlation between the scales and global ratings of nursing care (Experience Scale r = 0.79, P < 0.001; Satisfaction Scale r = 0.82, P < 0.001) and overall postpartum stay (Experience Scale r = 0.64, P < 0.001; Satisfaction Scale r = 0.68, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scales are valid measures of maternal satisfaction with inpatient postpartum nursing care. (c) 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.