PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop the Nurse Presence Scale and to test the reliability and validity of the instrument. METHOD: The subjects verifying the scale's reliability and validity were adult patients being treated in three artificial kidney unit in Pusan and Taegu from August 1 to October 15, 2000. The data was analyzed by the SPSS/WIN 8.0 program. RESULT: A factor analysis and was conducted items that had a factor loading more than .40, and an eigen value more than 1.0 were seleclted. The factor analysis classified a total of seven factors statistically, but the seventh factor was excluded because communality was less than 4%. Therefore, there were six factors, and its communality was 62%. The explanation of domain and factors based on the conceptual framework and item content are as follows: The first factor was 'interaction' in emotional areas, the second domain was 'empathy' in cognitive areas, the third was 'attention' in emotional areas, the fourth was 'openness' in emotional areas, the fifth was 'sensitivity' in behavioral areas, and the sixth was 'physical assist' in behavioral areas. Cronbach's alpa coefficient to test reliability of the scale was .9766 for a total 49 items. CONCLUSION: The Scale for Nurse Presence developed in the study was identified as a tool with a high degree of reliability and validity. Therefore, this scale can be effectively utilized for the evaluation of nurse presence in clinical settings.

This study is a research of conceptual development to find the factors of presence. The concept and the definition of presence received from literary review. On the basis of these findings, we formulate the contents of presence through structured interview guide composed of open-ended questionnaire which included the frequency, attitude, and posture. We selected 104 samples who are the patients, doctors, nurses, and other health providers. And then the contents of presence were established after integrating the formulated contents and putting them in order. The categorizing of the presence was made after discussing with specialist in this field. By using the selected contents, we made 25 statements of presence which were categorized into three factors. The results were as follows: 1. The definition of presence is being with at the same time and space, making attention with openness, and the therapeutic interaction with empathy. 2. The contents of presence through personal interviews are (1) The time required is 5 minutes(46.15%), 2-3 minutes(34.61%), and 10 minutes (15.38%) respectively. The frequency of visiting is 3 times(39.20%), every time(23.07%), and more than 5 times(20.19%) respectively. (2) In case of being with nurse is having pain(39.42%), suffering trouble or severe fear(9.61%), feeling discomfort(8.65%), taking care of wound(7.69%), and other unfavorable symptoms(6.73%) respectively. (3) The posture being with nurse is depends on the situations(63.46%), sitting(26.92%), and standing(9.61%) respectively. Eye contact with nurse is face to face(78.84%), depends on the situations(20.19%), and not face to face(0.96%) respectively. (4) The attitudes of comfort are explaining about disease(23.07%), holding on hands (14.42%), touching on the suffering parts (11.53%), and unconditionally being with(7.69%) respectively. (5) Nurses' caring actions are kindness (27.88%), replying to the question (12.50%), smiling(10.57%), bright appearances (8.65%), and right and quick treatment(8.65%) respectively. (6) The effects of being with are peaceful mind(58.65%), quick recovery(13.46%), and decrease in fear(12.50%) respectively. (7) The attitudes of being with are listening (11.53%), recognition(8.65%), talking about discomfort(8.65%), and answering kindly (7.69%) respectively. 3. From the analysis of presence factors, 25 statements and 3 categorized factors are presented.