Development and Psychometric Evaluation of a Japanese Version of Newly Graduated Nurses’ Difficulties with End-of-Life Care for Cancer Patients (NDEC Scale)

(1) Background: End-of-life care (EoL care) for cancer patients is stressful for nurses and can easily lead to burnout. Newly graduated nurses (NGNs) have a particularly difficult time, but no scale or inventory has been designed to evaluate their difficulties. This study developed and tested the reliability and validity of a scale to measure NGNs’ difficulties with EoL care for cancer patients (NDEC scale). (2) Methods: This study population consisted of 1000 NGNs and 1000 nurses with at least five years of clinical experience (GNs) that were working in hospitals in Japan. The initial scale consisted of six factors and 28 items. The reliability and validity of the scale were tested. (3) Results: A total of 171 NGNs and 194 GNs responded to the survey. The scale consisted of five factors and 25 items with the factors including “Feeling painful”, “Can’t deal with patients and their families”, “Don’t know the answer”, “Cannot afford”, and “Being afraid of death”. The criteria validity, known population validity, and internal consistency were confirmed. (4) Conclusions: The scale was validated to have a certain level of reliability and validity. The NDEC scale is expected to be used for self-care for NGNs and as an effectiveness indicator for educational programs.