Nursing Student Satisfaction Scale: Evaluation of Measurement Properties in Nursing Degree Programs

Background/Objectives: Satisfaction among undergraduate nursing students plays a crucial role in student retention, helping to mitigate nursing shortages in the workforce, reduce academic costs, and uphold universities’ reputations. The Nursing Student Satisfaction Scale (NSSS) measures three theoretical domains: Professional Social Interaction, Curriculum and Teaching, and Learning Environment. Although the NSSS has demonstrated reliability and validity with respect to American nursing students, its psychometric properties have not been tested on a population of Italian nursing students. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the reliability and validity of the NSSS in regard to Italian nursing students. Methods: A multicenter observational study was conducted on undergraduate nursing students in Central Italy. A confirmatory approach was used to assess structural validity. The construct validity, internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and responsiveness to change of the NSSS were evaluated using correlation analyses, reliability coefficients, and measurement error determination. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor first-order structure of the NSSS as well as the presence of a single second-order factor. Reliability was adequate for all the coefficients computed (with values ranging from 0.924 to 0.974). Construct validity was supported. The measurement error was adequate. Conclusions: The NSSS exhibited robust measurement properties, confirming its validity and reliability as an instrument for assessing nursing student satisfaction in the Italian context. Furthermore, our results indicate that, after the translation and cultural adaptation of the scale, the construct of nursing student satisfaction remains consistent with the theoretical model.