The NPC Scale
NPC Research Group · Instrument

The Nurse Professional Competence Scale

The NPC Scale measures self-reported professional competence among nurse students and registered nurses — available in an original 88-item version and a validated 35-item short form.

88
Original items
35
Short form items
10+
Languages
Scale versions & references
88
NPC Scale — Original Version
The full 88-item instrument for comprehensive assessment of self-reported nursing competence across all six professional domains.
Required reference Nilsson J., Johansson E., Egmar A-C., Florin J., Leksell J., Lepp M., Lindholm C., Nordström G., Theander K., Wilde-Larsson B., Carlsson M., & Gardulf A. (2014). Development and validation of a new tool measuring nurses self-reported professional competence — The nurse professional competence (NPC) Scale. Nurse Education Today 34; 574–580. doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2013.07.016
35
NPC Scale-SF — Short Form
The validated 35-item short form for studies where a briefer instrument is appropriate, maintaining strong psychometric properties.
Required reference Nilsson J., Engström M., Florin J., Gardulf A., & Carlsson M. (2018). A short version of the nurse professional competence scale for measuring nurses' self-reported competence. Nurse Education Today 71; 233–239. doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2018.09.028
Access & approval

Request to use
the NPC Scale

The NPC Scale and its manuals are available after receiving approval from the NPC Research Group. Each approval is valid for one specific study. Send your request by email to Professor Margret Lepp.

Request approval ↗
1
Send a request
Email Professor Margret Lepp describing your study and intended use.
2
Receive approval
One approval covers one specific research project.
3
Cite correctly
Use the required reference for whichever version you apply.
What is measured

Six areas of
nursing competence

The NPC Scale covers six core domains spanning the full scope of professional nursing practice.

01
Nursing care
Direct patient care, clinical assessment, and evidence-based nursing interventions.
02
Care planning & evaluation
Structured planning, goal-setting, and systematic evaluation of nursing care outcomes.
03
Medical and technical care
Technical procedures, medication management, and medical device competency.
04
Teaching & learning
Patient education, health promotion, and supporting learning for patients and colleagues.
05
Legislation & safety
Adherence to legal frameworks, patient safety protocols, and ethical practice standards.
06
Development & leadership
Professional growth, organisational development, and leadership in nursing care.